4GB or 8GB - Gaming desktop

[TooNice]

I am building a Core2 based desktop mainly for gaming and HTPC use. I will probably upgrade to Windows 7 some time after it's released (assuming no major issues are reported). Am I likely going to need 8GB RAM in the next 2-3 years (I want to stick to only GFX and HD upgrade till then)?

[SiM]

3x2GB DDR3 is probably the best for the next 2-3 years, will hold resale value better as everyone is going to be buying this for their i7 systems - or you would be able to use it when you migrate to i7

[matty-hodgson]

3x 2GBs
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?GSK-6GDDR3 - has heatspreaders.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?CRU-6GDDR3 - i have this and it can do 1900MHz easily on my i7

[Ciber]

Am I likely going to need 8GB RAM in the next 2-3 years (I want to stick to only GFX and HD upgrade till then)?

I would say yes, 8gb or more will be the norm in a couple of years. However RAM is very easy to swap out and is likely to fall alot in price over time so I would put 2 or 4gb in for now and upgrade later.

[TooNice]

Thing is, I already bought an IP35 Pro. Short of selling it and going i7 (still fairly expensive still), I was thinking of staying with DDR2. I realise that it won't have much 'resale' value which is why I am tempted to stick with 4GB (on the basis that I can write it off once I go DDR3).

On the other hand, I don't think DDR2 will drop in price much more. PC3200 RAM is not exactly cheap even though they are obsolete, and the same thing will happen with DDR2 RAM a year from now.

Or should I seriously look into an i7 system now? (are motherboard still £200+?)

[Ciber]

I would say stick with your DDR2, yes. i7 motherboards are still expensive, £200+ for a good one. £500 will get you CPU mobo and 3gb RAM.

[TooNice]

How much memory do the most memory demanding games require right now?

And how much memory is required to run Windows 7 smoothly (basic operation)?

[Ciber]

How much memory do the most memory demanding games require right now?

A couple of games such as crysis I think can benefit from 4gb.

And how much memory is required to run Windows 7 smoothly (basic operation)?

My laptop has 1gb and that runs windows 7 fine for basic stuff.

[Sputnik]

The cost of DDR2 is so cheap at the moment that if you feel the need to go with 8Gb then I'd do it.

If your not planning on upgrading for the next 3 years, I don't think it will matter about resale or future-proofing. By that time DDR3 will have been or likely to be replaced by something else anyway.

[moogle]

If it's just games you're getting the ram for then 4GB will probably be enough.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

If you are running applications like Photoshop then perhaps 8gb will be of use. For gaming IMHO in the two years or so I think it will be of little use. Most people still run 32bit operating systems and as such will not have more than 3.25gb of usable RAM anyway!!

If anything you will benefit more from faster hard disks IMHO.

[TooNice]

Thanks. How well do Core Duo/Quad cope with the latest graphics SLi/Crossfire setup. I am not going for that, but I just want to work out if the CPU is likely to be a bottleneck for the next gen or two of GFX cards. I read that the i7 920 can do 4x4Ghz - that's pretty impressive and admittedly tempting.

[matty-hodgson]

Thanks. How well do Core Duo/Quad cope with the latest graphics SLi/Crossfire setup. I am not going for that, but I just want to work out if the CPU is likely to be a bottleneck for the next gen or two of GFX cards.

most C2Ds and all C2Qs will run an SLi setup without being a bottleneck..
that's if you're meaning gaming performance.

I read that the i7 920 can do 4x4Ghz - that's pretty impressive and admittedly tempting.

4x4GHz isn't exactly true.
the core speed can quite easily reach 4GHz in most cases, and yes, there are 4 cores.. but it's not as simple as that.

i decided to spend £1300 on Core i7 and haven't regretted it (much ).. the gaming performance is amazing! but that's mainly due to the graphics cards, not the processor. playing Crysis like it was meant to be played is awesome, but unless you have the money to burn like i did (cos of certain circumstances) then i'd just go C2Q and 4GB RAM..

[arthurleung]

I would say 4GB.

After my recent (very poor) experience in installing 8GB, not only I lose 15~20% of my overclock due to stability issue, the memory performance is so low my C2Q system struggles to keep up with my two C2D Laptops (one is 2.4Ghz, one is 2.0Ghz).

I have to say I'm very suprised when my desktop did 1.15FPS*4 and my laptop which is a whole Ghz slower gets 0.98FPS*2 on the same Avisynth script I use commonly.

[TooNice]

4x4GHz isn't exactly true.
the core speed can quite easily reach 4GHz in most cases, and yes, there are 4 cores.. but it's not as simple as that.

What do you mean? What's the common overclock with the i920? I wonder how much your CPU contributes to your gaming performance.
Overall, I am still leaning towards the a Core CPU. To be honest, I just want a PC that'll run L4D (which be easy enough by today's GFX card) and GTA4 (possibly less easy) in HD 1080p.. silently.

[Mighty God]

If your on quite a tight budget, and your only really going to use it for gaming then 4GB should be enough for you, however if you do a lot more than gaming then go for the 8GB, but don't forget if you go for 8GB, you'll also have to go 64-bit with your OS, which with the lack of strength behind the Pound against the US Dollar at the minute, even OEM editions are quite costly.

Also, if you're planning on upgrading to Windows 7 and not staying with Vista, then your performance with only 4GB will probably be even better due to the way Windows 7 runs and utilises system resources.