How much RAM?

[Nestle]

I tried Crucial Memory Calculator to see how much memory is "good enough" but they didn't had any of the newest motherboards there.
I tried some other motherboards, and it seems that with win 98 and CPUs below 1GH , 512MB of RAM was the best in most cases.
For win XP and fast processors it seems that 768MB is better.

The system I am using now (Asus A7V Athlon 900MHz) uses 768MB. When i bought the system 1 and a half year ago i only had 256MB, but some months ago when PC133 price droped a lot I got 512MB more.

Now I am building a new system based on the KT333, and I want to use PC2700, which is not all that cheap. Will 512MB be good enough? (for apps like Flash Mx, Photoshop, Illustrator etc) Or should i spend the extra money to get 768MB? (I feel kinda bad building a new system with less memory than my older computer).

Also, other things equal (brand, CL etc) what would it be better: 512Mb of PC2700 OR 768mb of PC2100 ?

 

[jcmkk]

I think that 512MB should do you fine. A lot of it has to do with how you set your machine up. If you are running Windows XP with all of the eye candy turned on, then you should go for more. I don't think the 512MB PC2700 or 768MB of PC2100 is really worth mentioning because the price between PC2700 and PC2100 is not enough to make it worth going for PC2100. They are actually very similar in price. You wouldn't get 768MB of PC2100 for anywhere near the price of 512MB of PC2700.

 

[Nestle]

I didn't search for RAM prices yet, but i don't want to buy generic. I want good RAM from a good vendor. And if I buy from crucial, the price for 512MB PC2700 is about the same with 768MB of PC2100 (there is a $30 cupon for 512MB PC2100 that you can use on top of the 20% discount). So both come to a bit less than $200. If i buy 768MB PC2700 from crucial it will cost close to $300.

Is there another good vendor that i will be able to buy 768MB of PC2700 for not much more than $200?

 

[Oreo]

WinXP with all the eye candy in the world wouldn't begin to use 512MB ram, even less so with 768MB ram. However if you do alot of heavy graphics and 3d rendering you can't get enough of ram, but for now and lets say a year ahead 512MB is all you'll need for games and stuff.

 

[Nestle]

How about that PC3200 RAM? Anybody used that OCZ memory?

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

If you're gonna be running a KT333 system, I'd go for 512mb PC2700.

You could save a little more cash and go for a KT266A with 512mb PC2100 and you'd barely lose any speed, IMHO.

As for OCZ...I've heard some shady things about them. I use all Nanya in my system and it seems to work pretty well, just picked up my 2nd stick of it today.

 

[Nestle]

What about Mushkin PC3200 ?

In applications like photoshop and illustrator, is "more memory" or "faster memory" more important?

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

PC3200 is a 200mhz FSB. Most people can't get their computers that high..

PC2700 is your best bet using a KT333 system, IMO, unless you wanna overclock the memory even more.

 

[Oreo]

More memory is better 99% of the time in applications.

 

[BFG10K]

These days 256 MB is the bare minimum requirement and 512 MB (and higher) is preferred choice.

 

[Siddhartha]

I read your post and I am not sure if you are going to use Win 98 or Win XP. You will do okay with 512 meg and buy more when RAM prices to go down.

 

[Nestle]

I am gona be using win XP.

any good PC2700 that is cheaper than crucial?

 

[Strych9]

<< any good PC2700 that is cheaper than crucial? >>



How about this.

 

[conlan]

512Mb of PC2700 would be plenty. I would focus more on quality than quantity. you can always add more later as prices fall.

 

[esc]

googlegear has samsung pc2700 512mb for about $133. hell cheaper than crucial but also a good performer.

[edit]oops, i didn't see strych9's link. that was the one i was talking about.[/edit]

 

[sharkeeper]

Say this 100 times if you have to...

You can never have enough ram.



Cheers!

 

[ElFenix]

if you're not upping the FSB then running at pc2700 is almost negligible in terms of increase. i'd go for more ram since you're using some heavy apps.

 

[Nestle]

That samsung memory seems good.
If i want 768MB, what is the best way to go: 512MB + 256MB OR 3 x 256MB ?

The first way will leave me with one more memory slot and its cheaper. But maybe 3 x 256 will be better since all 3 memory sticks will be exactly the same?

 

[Zukatah]

For 768 megs, I'd go for 512+256 because it gives you an additionnal slot to upgrade. I'd hate to throw away a stick of RAM =)