Bargin Memory or not?

[Harkin]

Regardless of this is it no better to run 4x1024 sticks as apposed too 3x1024 sticks?

Why? The other 1Gb still won't be used

[Dreaming]

I think he means for dual channel.

One thing... I think 32 bit uses a maximum of 3.25gigs or something.

Someone said windows can be clever and use up to 128gigs even on 32 bit but haven't seen it so far. My friend who tried got 3.25. He thinks he needs it for his media centre, but he's just got more money than sense...

...just built a pc in his car

If it was my cash I'd get 2 gigs of the cheap stuff and get a nice massive monitor. Honestly, you won't notice a massive massive performance boost (yet) in going from 2 - 4 gigs, but get a big monitor and you'll be blown away!

[brentonhill]

Sounds like you think like me! Yeah I did mean dual channel.

I have a 32" Samsung LCD 720 and a 17" Philips monitor that this is going to be plugged into so I think I am all sorted for screens for the minute!

So 2GBs of the cheap ram huh and there will be little difference between that and some corsair for example?

[Dreaming]

Nope. The expensive ram is good for when you're overclocking, you can increase the voltage and speed (which increases the heat) which is why you need heat sreaders, to stop them melting.

I'd buy 2 gigs now, you can always upgrade in a few weeks if you feel you're struggling. My girlfriend's basic PC only has 1 gig and that's powering her onboard graphics too and running vista and she hasn't complained.

You can still overclock the processor (core 2 duos all overclock so easily it's as simple practically as pressing a button to go faster) and that will help for example if you're batch processing images, or if you're playing supreme commander , or if you're encoding videos.

It was nice building a humble system because it made me realise a lot of the stuff we spend a lot of money on, are probably overkill.

[Pob255]

You will need Vista 64 bit to use the 4Gb, 32 bit only uses up to 3Gb

But 3gb should be more than enough.
Although I'm not sure on vista, there is vertially no differnce between 1gb and 2gb on xp if not playing games and even then it depends on which games.

[redddraggon]

I'm going to 4GB, today, from 2GB, I'm on vista x64.

I'll report back to you guys with what I notice.

[brentonhill]

Cool, cheers lads! Was just think, do you guys think I will notice the difference if I got this pc4200 RAM instead of the pc2-6400 stuff?

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=182628

[Agent]

It's no name stuff, but if it doesn't work you could return it.

Micron are one of the biggest chip makers in the world (think Crucial and most server based mission critial systems use it).

You will need Vista 64 bit to use the 4Gb, 32 bit only uses up to 3Gb

Wrong im afraid. 2^32 = 4Gb / 4 gibibytes if you want to be exact
It depends on the hardware being used, and what is being assigned to the registers.

32bit only utilises 3gb of ram

Wrong again im afraid. See above.

Regardless of this is it no better to run 4x1024 sticks as apposed too 3x1024 sticks?

Do you need the extra RAM?
Also, if running XP, its not very good at sorting out 4Gb of RAM (It can, dont get me wrong, just not very good at it )

Why? The other 1Gb still won't be used

It depends on the application, PAE, version of windows / the opperating system you are running.
You can use 4Gb fine with the right setup. I dont know why people think you cant? It just takes a little more work / research.
Its use under windows is debatable, granted. Unless you are doing a lot of multitasking / multithreaded work with the correct application, it will offer little / no advantage.

Someone said windows can be clever and use up to 128gigs even on 32 bit but haven't seen it so far.

64gigs on x86 with PAE

The amount of misinformation in this thread is shocking
Bad advice is worse than no advice!

[brentonhill]

So 4GB on Vista Ultimate with an asus 650i mobo, e6600, 8800gts bfg. Will that use all 4GB?

Im using a T5600 laptop at the mo with vista business, 1GB Ram and it is OK but can be sluggish.

I spend a lot of time on computers (My life :S) and so I don't like to get irritated waiting for things to load. I always end up with countless windows open. So come on guys, which RAM do I need and am I going to have 2GB or 4GB?!

[Agent]

Vista 64bit or 32bit?

If its 32bit it depends on your mobo / PAE (google it) / system setup. It also will not be as fast as 64bit vista due to the different way they access / assign memory. You may also need to do some manual editing of your boot file (I will go into this if needed later).

64bit is straight forward

edit - as for 2gb vs 4gb - what do you use your system for?

[Sprite]

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=98708

[brentonhill]

Photoshoping images, web design, bit of gaming and watching HD Movies. Oh an sometimes working from home (so Outlook lol).

Oh and am using Vista 32

[Agent]

Photoshoping images, web design, bit of gaming and watching HD Movies. Oh an sometimes working from home (so Outlook lol).

Oh and am using Vista 32

2gb will do you fine

[Sprite]

Go for the RAM in my post above, 2GB of Corsair XM2 for £47.17 including delivery

[brentonhill]

Daniel, that is a great find! What a bargin. Think I might get 4GB of that from there unless anyone has any other thoughts? I might need help making vista understand it is 4GB!

[Sprite]

Go for 4GB then

Hint: Place 2 orders and they'll come to £47.17 each, the offer can be used more than once.