Any gains to be had by increasing system RAM from 2GB to 4GB?

[Konovalov]

Hi guys,

 

As per subject is there any point or gain to be had in increasing my system memory from 2GB up to 4GB in terms of performance of Lockon FC 1.12 and soon to be released FC 2.0 or DCS Blackshark?

 

I currently run Windows 7 64 bit OS along with an Nvidia EVGA GTX260 card with 896MB of video memory. I have my Intel Core 2 Due E6600 overclocked from 2.4Ghz stock up to 3.195Ghz with a FSB of 355Mhz. Current memory configuration is 2 x 1GB sticks with the other two banks empty. Built this system originally back in December 2007 with Win XP and am trying to squeeze what I can out of it before my next build.

 

I could purchase another 2 x 1GB sticks of the same spec memory (although different brand) for around £50 but I have heard that filling up all 4 memory banks can limit or reduce your overclocking headroom of the CPU. If that is the case it would cost me £90 to go for 2 x 2GB matched pair sticks.

 

So what do you think? Is it worth doubling the system memory from 2 to 4GB RAM or am I better of saving for a new build based around the i5-750 or i7-930? I'm really stuck on this one and it has been on my mind the last couple of weeks. :unsure:

[*Rage*]

Currently I dont think so.

 

If they release a 64bit exe then probably. Overclocking with 4x1gb sticks of different brands may be problematic also.

 

Im in a similar position to you and elected to stay with my e6850 which I will overclock (if OcUK ever send me my order) and wait for the next gen...be that AMD bulldozer or Intel sandy bridge. Both will be out 2011 in all likelihood.

[Konovalov]

I read through this thread from July 2009: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=43405

 

Starting to think I should just go for another 2 x 1GB sticks matched pair memory and see how that goes. Currently I have in my system 2 x 1GB Corsair Dominator XMS2 800Mhz PC2-6400 CAS 4 2.1v (product code TWIN2X2048-6400C4D). The best similar spec that I can find is something like this from Crucial for £52.

 

It has similar voltage recommendations and is same PC2-6400 (800mhz) and cas 4. I did notice however on the same e-tailers site a Geil Black Dragon 2 x 1GB matched kit for £44 and a Corsair kit for £49.

 

Any suggestions as to what to go with?

[Mugenjin]

I figure that you'd get a performance boost, but it's no way worth 50 quids. 50 is really pricey for some measly 2x1gb ddr-800. You're better off saving that money for a CPU.

[topdog]

Load up the mission that's taxed your system the most and tab out to desktop to see what the memory utilization is like through it. You can also check to see if page faults are going through the roof in task manager (PF Delta for system process and black shark should spike a few thousand here and there, but shouldn't start chugging with a stream of constant PF's in the thousands non-stop, that's a sign you're starting to thrash even before you might feel it).

 

Throwing RAM at a PC if you're not already using all you currently got, may yield zero benefit for you.

 

I'm only playing with 2.8GB usable RAM in Vista (thanks to 32-bit memory architecture limits and fat video cards), but I'm not in danger of running out of RAM, and that's whilst using no caution in running additional surplus background junk that I could live without.

[Feuerfalke]

Going from 2GB to 4GB won't increase your FPS notably. More memory will decrease loading times from windows, games and missions. If you think that's worth it, I'd invest the money.

 

But you have to remember that your board is a dual-channel board. That means that 2 sticks of memory are addressed at a time. With 1 or 3 memory sticks installed you loose that performance boost, and with the Asus P5B IIRC you will also loose your dual-channel performance with 4 sticks.

 

In other words: If you intend to install more RAM to INCREASE performance, the only save way is to replace your current 1GB sticks with 2GB sticks. That will of course increase cost, so you have to be aware of that.

[emenance]

Going from 2GB to 4GB won't increase your FPS notably. More memory will decrease loading times from windows, games and missions. If you think that's worth it, I'd invest the money.

 

But you have to remember that your board is a dual-channel board. That means that 2 sticks of memory are addressed at a time. With 1 or 3 memory sticks installed you loose that performance boost, and with the Asus P5B IIRC you will also loose your dual-channel performance with 4 sticks.

 

In other words: If you intend to install more RAM to INCREASE performance, the only save way is to replace your current 1GB sticks with 2GB sticks. That will of course increase cost, so you have to be aware of that.

 

Exactley right.

 

At the OP ....... and I would add that I dont feel the need for 4gb myself. On my next build if Intel it will be 2 x 2gb sticks. Messing around anyo other way is riskey as hell. You dont want a corrupted OS.

[Konovalov]

Thanks guys for the advise. I'll ponder over it for a bit. :book:

 

One thing I wasn't aware of was that if I filled the other two memory banks with another matched pair of DDR2 that I would loose dual channel. If that is the case then my only real option is to remove the 2GB kit and replace it with a 4GB kit (matched pair).

 

One thing I didn't mention was that I do quite a bit of RAW processing of my photos from my Nikon DSLR and the processing software that I use is a bit of a memory hog so that is something else to factor in.

 

It's funny how volatile memory prices have been in recent times. I found a spreadsheet I created when I built my last system from back in December 2007. At the time I paid £195.77 for a matched pair of Corsair memory as per in my signiture. Now I can pickup a 2GB kit for 1/4 of that price and 6 months back it was even cheaper. In hindsight I should have upgraded when memory prices were rock bottom and dirt cheap.:cry_2:

Edited March 22, 2010 by Konovalov