RAM: Bigger or faster?

[CrimsonChaos]

After posting a "new rig" setup, I've gotten a number of people that have said to get 2GB of RAM (approximately 3-3-3-8 timings) instead of getting 1GB of 2-2-2-5 RAM.

Assuming these cost about the same, and the computer will be used for mostly gaming and some video/graphics editing, which RAM combination is really the best to go with? Bigger or faster?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Unless you're a Photoshop power user (or some other extrememly RAM hungry app like VMWare), there's absolutely no reason to have more than 1 Gb - you'd be wasting your money.

Make darn sure the RAM is compatible with your mobo. I would recommend you visit the Crucial or Corsair website and use their online database to lookup the EXACT memory that's a guaranteed match for your mobo.

Just browse these forums and see how many people buy memory and then have issues. Modern high performance mobos (especially those running in dual channel memory mode) are VERY fussy about RAM and timing. Get the right memory or you'll give yourself a lot of grief.

If your mobo does support Dual Channel you need TWO matched memory sticks.

 

[Insomniak]

I dunno, if you game, 2GB now may not be a bade idea. It'll prep you for the next 18 months. I plan to move up to 2gb around Christmas.

 

[Malak]

Getting the RAM ahead of time doesn't save you any money though. There's only one game that could use 2GB of RAM right now, and that's EQ2. If you don't play that, I wouldn't worry, and if you aren't a photoshop freak, you definitely don't need it. I'd wait.