4GB or 2GB

Hi Guys

I am going to build a gaming system for Black Shark

Need to know if the game benefits from 4GB RAM or is 2GB RAM more than enough.

I am only runnning 1280 x 1024 4AA 16AF but intend on maxing all details running Windows 7 with the new system.

Many thanks in advance

RAM does not largely improve Framerates.

It mostly improves loading times and reduces ingame stutters due to loading new textures or saving to a swapfile.

You can use 4GB with Win7 32bit, but you won't have full 4 GB addressable. 32bit has limited addresses, so only 3.8 GB can be used as maximum. Additionally your Graphics-card-memory also needs an address-range, further lowering the usable memory. But this is theory.

In practice any 32bit Windows-version uses a maximum of about 3.12 GB of RAM. 265MB of RAM are substracted for each Graphics-Card you have installed. How much of your graphics-card memory is used, depends on your hardware-configuration. With luck, you have 2.5-2.8GB left to use.

But that is better than 2GB, so Groove is right. 4GB with a 32bit system is better than 2GB. But the CPU is much more important for your actual gaming performance ;)

IMHO, the 4GB is a worthwhile upgrade for Black Shark. 2 GB is really the minimum you want to have to reliable preformance and large missions can easily fill this space to the max.

In Most new machines it is recommended to have 6 GB to take advantage of DDR3 in tripple channel. I have 4 and feel I could use some more already.

RAM does not largely improve Framerates.

 

It mostly improves loading times and reduces ingame stutters due to loading new textures or saving to a swapfile.

 

Yes that was my main concern if the game uses more than 2GB with textures etc...

Thanks you all for your replies.

4GB it is then.

Now I have a ram selection dilemma lol

For overclocking is it easier with 2 sticks vs 4 sticks for a core 2 duo X48 system

Was going to post this in the relevant DFI mobo forum but thought no harm in askin here.

I have a preference for Crucial but they have no 4GB PC28500 kit only 2GB PC28500

Crucial Ballistix

4GB PC26400 4-4-4-12

or

2 x (2GB PC28500 5-5-5-15)

Otherwise its Corsair

4GB PC28500 5-5-5-15

Yes that was my main concern if the game uses more than 2GB with textures etc...

Afaik (after looking at process commit load inspectors) DCS does not use more than 2GB. Indeed, as far as I have understood it cannot, since it is a 32bit application and there has to be some hacks done to allow them to adress more - hacks in the individual user's operating system. However, that is outside of my expertise so I'm only going on memory.

However, what you need to realize that if the above is correct, especially the point about 32bit applications using a maximum of 2GB, you need to remember that you need to have space for more than just DCS. You will probably be eating somewhere close to 1GB through just booting up the system and running background services. So if you want DCS to be able to access all of it's memory potential, you need a system that has more than 2GB. For DDR2 you would go for either 4 or 8 GB, for DDR3 you'd probably look at either 3, 6 or 12 GB, depending on your budget.

4GB of DDR2 or 3GB of DDR3 will give you all the maneuvering space you need.

Also, it should be noted that system RAM has no impact on whether you can run a given graphical application with an arbitrary amount of antialiasing or anisotropic filtering. That stuff happens in the GPU and is dependant on it's architecture and what other things you are forcing it to do simultaneously.

For overclocking is it easier with 2 sticks vs 4 sticks for a core 2 duo X48 system

I wouldn't say that either is "easier", however running with two sticks should be easier on your memory bus, and depending on stick type (especially it's cooling solution) and chassis cooling solution having four overclocked and possibly overvolted sticks jammed tight might cause overheating and thereafter system instability. The sticks I use (see signature) have very poor cooling and I've found that as summer hit they have become more sensitive with what I subject them too.

EtherealN is correct. As long as you stay with 32bit, your 4GB won't help your game using more than 2GB of RAM.

If you want your DCS to make use of more memory, you have to get 64bit Vista/Win7 and install more than 4 GB of RAM + vRAM. Until it is changed in the code/parameters of the DCS.exe, this is the only way to make use of more RAM.

In my new rig, I have 6GB RAM + 2GB vRAM and DCS reports in the ingame stats, that it uses 3.75GB of RAM. Caching during flights = gone.

Still using 3 or 4GB of RAM under 32bit makes the mostly the full 2GB of RAM available to DCS, whereas a 2GB-system would substract a portion for it's own needs.

If you buy a new PC with an i7, which has inbuilt tripple-memory-channel controls, you can consider going for 3x1GB.

With a dual-channel controller like the nForce 680 and 780, as well as your X48, you should rather go for 2x2GB. If you plug in 4x1GB into your X48-Motherboard, you will lose your dual-channel capability - no overclocking will make up for that performance loss.

You should also watch for the type of memory you use, as AFAIK the X48 is a DDR3 chipset. Didn't take a closer look, but "4GB PC28500 5-5-5-15" means it's DDR2. But maybe your board supports DDR2???

I am planning on running Win7 in 64 bit so yeah looks like 4GB for sure.

Using the least amount of money (hence DDR2, C2D E8500) maybe I can plump for E8600 $350AUD :( when prices drop a bit

I will be scavenging parts from current rig so will only need CPU,RAM and MOBO

CPU: E8500 $250AUD

RAM: Ballistix Tracer 4GB PC2-6400 $120AUD (incl shipping from US)

Corsair 4GB PC2-8500 $150

MOBO: DFI x48 T2RSB PLUS $200

DFI x48 T2RSB Plus is DDR2 board.

Current Rig is :(

http://www.amdgeeks.net/overclock/856

athlon 64 3700+ @2.8GHZ

DFI Expert

2GB Ballistix DDR 466

9800GT

480W PSU

I wouldn't go for the faster CPU, to be honest. The difference is rather linear, but the prices rise somewhat exponential. Waste of money IMHO, as the C2D can be easily overclocked with little additional heat produced.

The only thing the C2D hates when being overclocked is the power-saving feature. That disabled I ran my E6600 @ 3.6-3.8 GHz.

DFI has nice boards. Mine is from DFI, too. Great features in the bios, very stable and the passive cooling works pretty well. Great for overclocking ;)

I wouldn't go for the faster CPU, to be honest. The difference is rather linear, but the prices rise somewhat exponential. Waste of money IMHO

I agree E8600 is $350 vs $250 for E8500