Second Thoughts- RAM Amount

[DanKD]

While choosing the parts for my PC, I decided to go with 2 gigs of RAM 4x512. Well now I've finally settled on all my parts and am ready to order, but now am thinking perhaps I am just overdoing it and really only need 1 gig. I am going with the OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev2 for reference.

This is a gaming machine. The original reason I decided to go with 2 gigs is because I play MMORPG's which is a major ram hog. But do I really need the 2 gigs for games like World of Warcraft and EQ2? Will the fact that my this is very high performance RAM nullify the need for the extra gig? What do you guys think?

 

[Topweasel]

Yes, No.

Yes You will need that memory specifically for those 2 games (also add BF2 and soon F.E.A.R to the list).

No the speed of the Memory (latancy or over all MHZ) Will Help keep FPS up while playing these games, it will not affect how much info is saved in memory, so if you go over that GB then the game will flutter like crazy while waiting for your HDD for info (not even the I-RAM will help this).

 

[d2arcturus]

Stick with the 2GB, it's cheaper now, you may even want to go with this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227210
I know it's not Rev 2 but I think it's cheaper, you can run 2T, and the only downside is you'll get 2-3-2 timings instead of 2-2-2, not really a performance downgrade.

 

[DanKD]

Obviously going with the four chips requires running 2t timing, but I've also read that even still the 4/512 will outperform 2/1024. Is there a review somewhere comparing the two?

 

[DanKD]

Is running dual channel 2x512 and then an extra 512 chip in the 3rd slot possible?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You need 2GB with WoW if you play on max settings. I can't believe how much b!tching I hear from my friend who has 1 GB and a 6600GT and a 3.4 P4 who yells saying he can't play WoW @ 1280x1024 and how he only has 78MB of free memory at the moment, etc etc.... so yea

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
You need 2GB with WoW if you play on max settings. I can't believe how much b!tching I hear from my friend who has 1 GB and a 6600GT and a 3.4 P4 who yells saying he can't play WoW @ 1280x1024 and how he only has 78MB of free memory at the moment, etc etc.... so yea

Not really my experience. I went from 1GB to 2GB and still get major lag in large scale PvP and in the capital cities. I didn't really see a benefit in WoW. But I've heard EQ2 uses more RAM. BF2 definitely does.

To the OP, as has been said speed can never make up for quantity when you need the quantity. Speed is better if you don't use the extra GB, but when you need the extra RAM it could be at 4-5-5 timings and it would still be faster than 'not enough' RAM at 2-2-2 timings.

When you need it... you need it, and when you don't... you don't.

 

[DanKD]

Alright, I'll stick with 2 gigs then, but now I need to decide whether to stick with the 4x512 or go with the 2x1024. It seems everyone gives a different answer on which is better, ugg.

 

[djnsmith7]

I like the 2 GB sticks vs. 4x512 simply for future upgrading reasons. I just bought a 1 GB stick of Corsair Value RAM (PC3200) for $75 AR.

Yes, I did see a nice increase in performance on BF2 when I went from 512 to 1.5 GB.

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: DanKD
Alright, I'll stick with 2 gigs then, but now I need to decide whether to stick with the 4x512 or go with the 2x1024. It seems everyone gives a different answer on which is better, ugg.

I honestly don't think it matters all that much. You will be slightly higher latency with 4x512, but 4x512 will be cheaper and likely overclock higher.

The reason there are differing opinions is that the performance differences are not terribly obvious. When I see a case like this where there is no clear and obvious direction after months of perusing the forums, I take it as a hint that there is probably not a real world difference large enough for me to tell the difference.

I think the difference is really 4x512 is cheaper and 2x1GB allows for some future expansion. I wouldn't buy based on performance differences, they will likely be too close to call.

 

[furballi]

The AMD platform will default to 2T with 4 x 512. The penalty is about 55MHz CPU core speed.

 

[mehmetmunur]

I would go for 2*1024, just for future upgradeability. You might regret throwing away all 4 512MB dimms when longhorn comes around.

 

[Azeroth Citizen]

Originally posted by: Concillian

The reason there are differing opinions is that the performance differences are not terribly obvious. When I see a case like this where there is no clear and obvious direction after months of perusing the forums, I take it as a hint that there is probably not a real world difference large enough for me to tell the difference.

QFT