Memory size and type for i5 750?

[boren]

I'm soon going to buy a Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 mobo, an Intel i5 750 CPU and a Sapphire HD 4650 screen card.

What I haven't decided on is the memory size and type. Below are the tasks I intend to run (under WinXP 32 bit):

- RAW file conversion using RawTherapee
- Noise reduction using Noiseware
- Panorama creation using AutoStitch
- File viewing and resizing using Faststone
- Image editing using PaintShopPro X3
- FLAC and MP3 encoding
- xvid encoding
- A few occasional games (old ones - UT2004, Vegas2, the original Far Cry).

Should I get DDR2 or DDR3 memory? 2GB or 4GB?

Note that I'm in no hurry to play newer games and have no plan to OC.

Thanks!

 

[gaidensensei]

Doesn't the GA-P55A-UD3 motherboard support only DDR3?

 

[boren]

You're right. DDR3 it is then 🙂

Now I need to decide whether to go for 2GB or 4GB...

 

[gaidensensei]

More is always better, can't go wrong with it. You don't look like you are doing things that hog the RAM unless you are multitasking between most of those at the same time, 4gb is adequate.

Although in 32bit environments, the maximum memory is limited to 4gb. In windows 7 32-bit, I believe 3gb is the limit. Same with XP, but I think it was 3.25? Any extra ram over that amount will go unused.

Why not jump to 64bit with that system?

 

[ss284]

Go windows 7 x64 and get 4gb. If you can afford it go 8gb of ram.

 

[MisterDonut]

Go windows 7 x64 and get 4gb. If you can afford it go 8gb of ram.

What he said. Avoid OCZ for your motherboard's sake.

 

[Tattare]

DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)


you will have to manualy set it at 160.
Default will be 133
easily overclock higher.

 

[boren]

More is always better, can't go wrong with it.

Of course, but I don't want to spend extra if the gain is only marginal.

You don't look like you are doing things that hog the RAM unless you are multitasking between most of those at the same time, 4gb is adequate.

Would 2GB be adequate?

Although in 32bit environments, the maximum memory is limited to 4gb. In windows 7 32-bit, I believe 3gb is the limit. Same with XP, but I think it was 3.25? Any extra ram over that amount will go unused.

This is one more reason why I'm having doubts about the potential performance gain.

Why not jump to 64bit with that system?

I'm sticking with 32 bit WinXP for its driver compatibility with some legacy hardware.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i'm using an i5 with the p55m-ud4 and crucial ballistix ddr3 1333. 2x2GB, CAS 7, 1.65V max is what you want. i like the blue ones with 2 rows of lights across them. the motherboard didn't default to 7-7-7-24 667MHz, but it's easily selected in the BIOS (Profile 1). when i turn the board up to 150 MHz, this memory runs perfectly at ddr3 1500, with no changes.