Is there anyway around having only 256 MB of ram ?

[Gamer91]

My pc that has a pretty good graphics card for gaming only has 256 mb of ram and sense you need a virus scanner and software firewall by the time you add all of that you have used a lot of ram even just on startup.

Is there anyway around having only 256 mb of ram but still being able to game fine either offline or online gaming?

For example anyway to make a windows xp instaLL just for strictly gaming that uses a little ram as possible, then I would make a image of it, or is this not even worth doing?

s there any other way ?

I know this pc needs more ram lol.

512 mb of ram is the bare minimum now a days and more like 1 gb is recommended I know. This pc is pretty old but trying to get by on it if possible.

Seems like some games work just fine with this system even though it only has 256 mb of ram.

Like Grand theft auto vice city, etc.

I just want to online game again and I did a lot on this pc before but that was with a lot of older games like quake 3 arena, UT 2004, etc

Though I want to now online play in half life 2, counter strike source, swat 4, etc and wasn't sure if it would be playable enough or good enough with my system.

There really is no way to try online play before getting it to make sure.

 

[Synomenon]

You could always try this program called "NLite" to create a slimmed down WindowsXP with as many services as possible removed. Other than that, I can't think of any other way besides adding more RAM.

 

[Gamer91]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
You could always try this program called "NLite" to create a slimmed down WindowsXP with as many services as possible removed. Other than that, I can't think of any other way besides adding more RAM.

Thanks.

Not to bad for 256 mb of ram more (http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts....IT&tabid=AM&model=KT7A-RAID&submit=Go_ but this pc seems so flakey sometimes I am not even sure if its worth it.

The amazing thing my IBM Thinkpad laptop, which has 512 mb of ram seem to play half life 2, even thought it has the onboard video, a little better or about the same.

Maybe I should just game on my laptop lol.


Should I just buy a console even ? lol

Doesn't playstation 2 have free online play where the Xbox and Xbox 360 online pay is money?

 

[jackschmittusa]

Ram is cheap enough today that adding some would seem to make sense. Do you value your time at all? Is your time worth $3 an hour? $5? How many hours would you spend fudging around 256mb ram?

 

[Gamer91]

This is the system specs. Is it really worth adding more ram to it sense the system is so old?

I know I need to build myself a new pc lol.

Abit KT7a-raid motherboard
Athlon XP 1800 +
256 mb of sdram pc133 crucial
Leadtek Geforce 4 ti 4400 vivio video card with 128 mb of video ram
NEC DVD-RW drive
Maxtor 7200 rpm 45 gig hard drive
250 gig WD 7200 rpm hard drive
120 gig WD 7200 rpm hard drive

 

[Gamer91]

What is the limit of how much more ram I should add to my old horrile pc ? know I could add another 1.5 gigs but I am guessing that wouldn't be worth it.

 

[Nick5324]

Your board supports up to 1.5GB of RAM (3 sticks of 512MB). However, it isn't DDR, it is oldschool SDRAM, which is harder to find (for a decent price). I would imagine it would be hard to find a 512MB stick for a reasonable price, so I'd look for 2 256MB sticks. Try the FS/FT forum here, or maybe a local PC shop near you would have some SDRAM for sale.

Also, "sense" does not mean "because".

 

[Gamer91]

Originally posted by: Nick5324
Your board supports up to 1.5GB of RAM (3 sticks of 512MB). However, it isn't DDR, it is oldschool SDRAM, which is harder to find (for a decent price). I would imagine it would be hard to find a 512MB stick for a reasonable price, so I'd look for 2 256MB sticks. Try the FS/FT forum here, or maybe a local PC shop near you would have some SDRAM for sale.

Also, "sense" does not mean "because".

k but is it even worth upgrading the sdram on this pc or just waiting till I can build a whole new pc or upgrade a lot of this pc currently?

If it is worth adding ram to this old pc then how much more ram should I add to it ? Only 256 mb of ram more so the total will make 512 mb of ram or would more still be worth while adding?

If I add another 256 mb of ram will half life 2 multiplayer beable to work fine?

 

[Synomenon]

Read the recommended system requirements for HL2 from its box and see how much RAM it needs and what the recommended PC specs. are for it.

 

[Nick5324]

If you are planning on upgrading the CPU and motherboard in the near future, then I wouldn't bother with adding SDRAM to this machine. However, if you won't be upgrading the CPU/Motherboard soon (meaning you will be using this set-up for awhile), then I would say it is worth it. Going from 256MB to 512MB will be helpful in overall performance, including games. Going from 256MB to 768MB will probably help with games like half life 2. However, I don't really game, so I can't say for sure, I'm just assuming that half life 2 needs to load maps, and you want these to be in the RAM, thus 768MB vs. 512MB is probably a good idea. Maybe another ATer more familiar with the demands of Half Life 2 can tell us for sure.

Bottom line, if you are going to be using this computer for at least the near future, I'd say get at least one 256MB stick.

Good call IsLNdbOi, Half Life 2 system requirements

 

[Gamer91]

lol I don't even have this

2.4 GHz Processor
DirectX 9 capable graphics card 256mb

So I bet the extra 256 mb of ram or 512 mb of ram won't help that much at all.


I need to build a whole new pc or buy a console.


I don't undderstand why games use so much ram.

I guess we all need solid state hard drives so we don't have to worry about having enough ram sense the Virtual ram would run quick enough off there.

 

[Gamer91]

I might as well buy a playstation to and play online games there.


A lot easier.

 

[Synomenon]

Or stop playing games, go back to school and learn to spell and use the correct grammar.

 

[Shadow Conception]

Either that, or learn how to use a keyboard without typing like a total noob. I have a 3.0GHz processor, ATi Radeon 9250, and HAD 512Mb RAM (notice in my sig it's 1.25GB now), and even with such a crappy video card and average RAM, it worked great. A low clockspeed shouldn't influence FPS much, but overall, I think you should make an upgrade to 512Mb, we're still not at the point where 1GB is required.

 

[Gamer91]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Either that, or learn how to use a keyboard without typing like a total noob. I have a 3.0GHz processor, ATi Radeon 9250, and HAD 512Mb RAM (notice in my sig it's 1.25GB now), and even with such a crappy video card and average RAM, it worked great. A low clockspeed shouldn't influence FPS much, but overall, I think you should make an upgrade to 512Mb, we're still not at the point where 1GB is required.

What about with BF2 ?

That needs like 1 gb of ram.

 

[Shadow Conception]

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

* Windows XP (32-bit) with Admin rights
* 1.7 GHz Intel Celeron D / Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP/ Sempron or greater
* 512 MB of RAM or more
* 8x or faster CD/DVD drive
* 2.3 GB free hard drive space or more
* Video: DirectX 9.0c compatible (see video)
* Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible (Sound Blaster X-Fi series recommended )

It says 512MB or more, I think you should stay with 512Mb, and save up for a new computer, overall. And you should also get a good video card if you wanna play BF2.

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: Gamer91
I might as well buy a playstation to and play online games there.


A lot easier.

Even if you get another rig that rig would still be a wonderful backup or nice for someone in the family who doesn't have a computer. People won't help you if you have the attitude "dude, thinking is way too hard so I'll take the easy route". 512mb Ram can be had for $30.00 if you look in the right places and the KT7A-RAID board is very open to ram types. I wouldn't run XP with less than 512mb anyways.

 

[professor1942]

How about using Win2000 instead?

 

[zagood]

I agree that Win 2000, or even Win98 would be a better OS than XP for this system, the problem unless he goes the shady route, that's an even bigger investment than the ram.

I'd suggest picking up more ram for the time being. The difference right now between prices for 256 and 512mb is pretty minimal, I'd pick up a generic 512mb stick for around $45-$50.

Pricegrabber list: 512mb PC133 SDRAM

EDIT: I take that back, you can find 256mb for pretty cheap. Get 256mb if you can't afford 512mb.
Pricegrabber list: 256mb PC133 SDRAM

Also, if you're even thinking of playing BF2, you're gonna need a new system.

-z

 

[NaOH]

There is no way around it. Games by themselves use a lot of ram. So either buy more ram or stick to playing rollercoaster tycoon..

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Gamer91
I don't undderstand why games use so much ram.

Because as technology evolves, programs people write for them will follow. Plus games like BF2 use a lot of textures with maps that can support about 64 people......what is there not to get?

I had someone in my old guild for WoW who constantly complained about lag and how the programmers were dumb for making the game lag so much. He said he would lag big time when he would enter big cities. I asked him the specs of his computer. He told me, Celeron 1.xghz, and he didn't know how much ram or what kind of video card he had. =/. He then stated that they should stick to making the games not LAG then making them pretty. :disgust:

Seriously, if you don't wanna deal with this stuff then get a console. It'll save you the headache.

 

[Gamer91]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: Gamer91
I don't undderstand why games use so much ram.

Because as technology evolves, programs people write for them will follow. Plus games like BF2 use a lot of textures with maps that can support about 64 people......what is there not to get?

I had someone in my old guild for WoW who constantly complained about lag and how the programmers were dumb for making the game lag so much. He said he would lag big time when he would enter big cities. I asked him the specs of his computer. He told me, Celeron 1.xghz, and he didn't know how much ram or what kind of video card he had. =/. He then stated that they should stick to making the games not LAG then making them pretty. :disgust:

Seriously, if you don't wanna deal with this stuff then get a console. It'll save you the headache.

I don't mind it just seems like everytime you turn arouind there a new game that won't even play on the best gaming rig you can build.

Seems like now a days you need at least 2 gigs of ram if not 4 gigs of ram just be able to play a lot of the newer games like BF2, doom 3, Simcity 4, The Sims 2, etc

 

[NaOH]

Not exactly.......

Your system is totally underpowered to play any of those games. It's not the fact that games evolved so fast you couldn't keep up. I have been recommending having AT LEAST 512mb to people since I had a P3. I'm suprised you have the patience to even use your own computer while running on XP. I have many systems that only have 512mb or 768mb of ram that can play games. Not the best Image Quality but it will run. I had an 5900ultra FX that you can get for cheap now that ran Farcry at a decent IQ with only 768mb of ram.

If by turn around you mean go pull a blanket over your head and hibernate for about 5 years then yes, games do advance a lot in that time.


Edit: You do not need 2gb or 4gb to play Sims 2, Doom 3, etc....

 

[Shadow Conception]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY
Edit: You do not need 2gb or 4gb to play Sims 2, Doom 3, etc....

We're getting there

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception

Originally posted by: AMDUALY
Edit: You do not need 2gb or 4gb to play Sims 2, Doom 3, etc....

We're getting there

I know, I'm already considering upgrading to 2gb, it's just not required to PLAY like he says. It just annoying the fact that he makes it sound like it isn't his problem to upgrade. We told him the answer already. If he doesn't wanna take our advice then his only other alternative is to get a console.