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Upgrade & RAM brand mixing...advice?

bradruth

bradruth

Lifer
I just built myself a new system a little over a month ago (specs below) and I'm considering a couple of upgrades. The real question is "when should I upgrade?" I'm looking at two different options and I'd like some input on what I should do.

Option #1: Buy an additional stick of RAM--512mb of Crucial PC3200, specifically, right now for ~$90 and wait to upgrade my vid card until later this year
OR
Option #2: Wait until November/December (my b-day & x-mas) for the upgrades, at no cost to me. Keep in mind that I will end up running HL2 and maybe Doom 3 on my system the way it is.

The issue is pretty much just a financial one, but if the extra RAM will give me enough of a boost it will be enough to convince me to get it. I'm planning on ordering a Logitech MX700 mouse from newegg next week, so if the RAM would help enough to warrant an upgrade I'd get it at the same time. I appreciate any advice.

Games I play that will be affected: BF1942, RTCW: Enemy Territory, Simcity 4, Mafia, & I will soon play Splinter Cell.

MSI K7N2-L Delta Nforce2
AMD Athlon XP Barton 2500+ (o/c to 3000+)
512mb Crucial PC2700 (2x256) @ 400mhz (2.5-3-3-6)
Western Digital Caviar SE 80gb 8mb Cache HD
MSI Geforce 4 ti4400 128mb (o/c to 300/650)
Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2
 
You might see some boost in the games with the extra RAM, especially Simcity 4. Only you can say if the boost is worth the money.
 
On another note, if I DO upgrade the RAM would it be OK to get another brand of RAM as long as it supports the aforementioned timings @400mhz? I know that it's strongly recommended to use the same RAM, but *could* it work? The Crucial PC3200 is pretty expensive, so if I could save a few bucks I'd be more apt to upgrade.

Edit: At Newegg the Crucial PC3200 is $93, but the Geil PC3200 that's rated for the timings I'm running is $73.
 
i wouldn't mix but from what i hear it shouldn't matter too much. i'd rather not mix as it might affect your overclocking. i say option 2 and just get the mouse next week. mouse upgrades are nothing that require you opening the computer or anything. if you wait and do option 2, you save yourself the trouble of opening the computer multiple times and you'll see a bigger jump in performace with the 2 upgrades at the same time.
 
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