Is 64-bit Vista and 4GB of RAM worth it for gaming

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: Rabbits
64bit in many case's utilizes memory and ram a lot better then 32bit, and games tend to run faster. Only downside is 64bit doesn't have as much application support since it's harder to code.

Wrong on both counts.

64-bit won't affect game performance because games are still 32-bit software (99% of them anyway). The only way 64-bit will affect a game is if the game needs more than 3GB useable system memory and you happen to have 4GB or more available.

And 64-bit has just as much "application support" -- 32-bit programs run in 32-bit mode without problems. The only issues are with extremely old programs, 64-bit OS don't support 16-bit programs (and some of the earliest 32-bit programs came with 16-bit installers).

there are is a good amount of games with 64bit exe files nowadays. Anyways 64bit calls for extra registers and other parts of the CPU which can only be used in 64bit mode, thus the CPU actually does more work per cycle in 64bit mode.

as for the 16bit installers, those don't work properly on winXP 32bit either.

but yea, 64 bit is not harder to code for, you use the same code and recomplile in 64bit, the problem is that a lot of programs have dll files to do certain functions instead of using their own code. To recompile that you need to get a 64bit dll. Which is a problem if the company whom you licensed it from did not provide one.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: pcslookout
So do you all expect 8 GB to overtake the standard anytime soon if ram prices stay this low or get any cheaper? Is anything holding this back?

No because it seems like people want 2 sticks of ram instead of 4 and if they were to buy two 4GB ram sticks it would be a lot more than 4 x 2GB. I agree with JaBro999, "everyone" isn't hopping on the 4GB for gaming bandwagon. Pricing is what is getting people to buy 4GB. I have seen it as low as $20 after rebate.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: pcslookout
So do you all expect 8 GB to overtake the standard anytime soon if ram prices stay this low or get any cheaper? Is anything holding this back?

No because it seems like people want 2 sticks of ram instead of 4 and if they were to buy two 4GB ram sticks it would be a lot more than 4 x 2GB. I agree with JaBro999, "everyone" isn't hopping on the 4GB for gaming bandwagon. Pricing is what is getting people to buy 4GB. I have seen it as low as $20 after rebate.

Is 4 GB sticks of ram still expensive ? I would of thought by now they would of been at least a little cheaper.

 

[Yellowbeard]

The DRAM makers are not making any volume at all in DDR2 ICs that are large enough to make a 4GB module are not really compelled to do so. Supply is low and costs are high as there is very little demand. The DRAM world is moving on to DDR3 for the most part with respect to new densities and speeds.

 

[Juddog]

Halflife 2 has a 64 bit mode, as an example of a game that runs well in the 64 bit environment. Halflife 2 + 64 bit Vista + 4 GB RAM + Fakefactory mod, and you have a game that looks better than Farcry2 in many areas.

 

[JaBro999]

Originally posted by: pcslookout
Is 4 GB sticks of ram still expensive ? I would of thought by now they would of been at least a little cheaper.

Just check Newegg for the prices on 2x4GB DDR2 memory kits. You pay a lot more for slower memory.

Originally posted by: Yellowbeard
The DRAM makers are not making any volume at all in DDR2 ICs that are large enough to make a 4GB module are not really compelled to do so. Supply is low and costs are high as there is very little demand. The DRAM world is moving on to DDR3 for the most part with respect to new densities and speeds.

I definitely agree that it will not be until DDR3 that 2x4GB modules starts to become the "new" standard for a basic enthusiast build. It will take a while for this to happen as DDR3 supplies increase with demand and prices decrease.

 

[pcslookout]

Ok. I guess the best way 8 GB of ram is worth it now is only if you have four ram slots and you get four sticks of 2 GB of ram. So right the maximum amount of memory to get for a really great price is around 8 GB total if you have four ram slots. 16 GB of ram would cost a lot more and not be worth it unless you use a lot of Virtual Machines or a big time photoshop user.

 

[JaBro999]

If you want 8GB RAM in your PC, then 4 x 2GB is definitely the way to go for most current systems.

Just a note, some MBs handle four populated RAM slots better than others. Sometimes, it may be necessary to run the RAM at slower speed or timings to get stability with four sticks of RAM (the quality of the RAM is a factor as well). If having lots of memory is a requirement for you, do some research into getting a quality MB and RAM kit.

Finally, the new Intel Core i7 (Nehalem) systems will support 3 channel memory config, so Core i7 (Socket 1366) MBs will allow 6 x 2GB configurations using DDR3 RAM, for a total of 12GB. However, that starts to get pricey, as well.

 

[dmw16]

pricey in Oz. I was gonna go to 8GB just cuz it's so cheap in the states.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: dmw16
pricey in Oz. I was gonna go to 8GB just cuz it's so cheap in the states.

I would go 8 GB but I have four 1 GB sticks already. Though I could get a 2x2 GB memory kit and just take out two of the 1 GB sticks. So a total of 6 GB of ram. Not sure yet. I wish I had another system that took ddr 2 ram. I have a system that does ddr ram but not ddr 2 ram sucks.

 

[Silent Thunder]

Well i built today and happily bought 2x2g of 800mhz RAM and am currently on the search for a great HSF for cpu to keep my e8400 healthy at a hopeful 4ghz
Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Silent Thunder
Well i built today and happily bought 2x2g of 800mhz RAM and am currently on the search for a great HSF for cpu to keep my e8400 healthy at a hopeful 4ghz
Thanks for all the input guys.

Glad you went with 4 GB of ram. It is the new standard and the future amount to have for any kind of gaming.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: taltamir
as for the 16bit installers, those don't work properly on winXP 32bit either.

Yes they do. Nearly all freeware for XP used 16-bit installers for years after XP was released.