4GB vs 2GB RAM For Gaming

I was thinking of upgrading from 2GB of 533 RAM to 4GB of 667 RAM. What would be the performance increases for games, if any?chessboxer1

None whatsoever.

2GB or 3GB (2x1GB, 2x512MB) should be good for a while. You'll need Vista 64-bit if you want to use 4GB if you don't have it already, as well.animemog

Yeah I might get another 2x1gb rather than splash out on a full 4gb replacement.

Ok but for general system use, I'd see some increase? Using Vista 32bit and it's a real memory hog.chessboxer1

No. You will need a benchmarking program to notice any difference, and it will likely be very minor. For example, I was able to get a 300 point increase in 3DMark06 (from 17500 to 17800) by going from 667MHz memory to 755MHz (OCed).

Had it not been for 3DMark, I would have never known. That difference is too small to even worry about it.

[QUOTE="chessboxer1"]Ok but for general system use, I'd see some increase? Using Vista 32bit and it's a real memory hog.ZBoater

No. You will need a benchmarking program to notice any difference, and it will likely be very minor. For example, I was able to get a 300 point increase in 3DMark06 (from 17500 to 17800) by going from 667MHz memory to 755MHz (OCed).

Had it not been for 3DMark, I would have never known. That difference is too small to even worry about it.

I agree that i'll see little performance with games. But you wouldn't use 3D Mark to measure the performance of using Photoshop whichis mainly RAM and CPU intensive.3D mark is for measuring the DirectX performance of graphics cards.

I disagree I say i'd see performance gains increasing the RAM for my own general computing which includes working on PS and DW.

If you can tell the difference between 533MHz and 667MHz RAM just in general computing usage, congratulations. You have the planet's most keen sense of perception.

For us mere mortals, it would be literally impossible to notice the difference in general computing usage of such a small increase in memory, especially since memory is problably not the system's bottleneck. IF you went from 256MB to 2GB, yes, you would notice a HUGE difference. But from 2GB to 4GB, and from 533MHz to 667MHz, ummmm, no.

If you can tell the difference between 533MHz and 667MHz RAM just in general computing usage, congratulations. You have the planet's most keen sense of perception.

ZBoater

I never said I could , you are missing the point, this was about 4GB over 2GB not 677 over 533.

My point was about my OWN day today computing needs and yes you would see a significant difference in Photoshop's and Dreamweaver'sperformance in fact the more the better. Agreed using email and browsing the internet No.

Anyway there's no need to be so sarcastic;)

If you plan to do the jump to 4 gb REMEMBER to have a 64bit OS.wklzip

Yeah I've got Vista 64 kicking about somewhere. I doubt I will upgrade though, will put the money towards a brand new build in the New Year methinks!

[QUOTE="wklzip"]If you plan to do the jump to 4 gb REMEMBER to have a 64bit OS.chessboxer1

Yeah I've got Vista 64 kicking about somewhere. I doubt I will upgrade though, will put the money towards a brand new build in the New Year methinks!

Thats better.

Wait so you aren't going to buy the ram or you aren't going to use windows vista 64 bit. The way you wrote it

" Yeah I've got Vista 64 kicking about somewhere. I doubt I will upgrade though, will put the money towards a brand new build in the New Year methinks!"

...it seems like you are still planning on buying the RAM. I'm confused, because that doesn't make any sense...

Wait so you aren't going to buy the ram or you aren't going to use windows vista 64 bit. The way you wrote it

" Yeah I've got Vista 64 kicking about somewhere. I doubt I will upgrade though, will put the money towards a brand new build in the New Year methinks!"

...it seems like you are still planning on buying the RAM. I'm confused, because that doesn't make any sense...

shanelevy

Not buying the RAM. Using Vista 32 now. Have a copy of Vista 64. Enlightened?

Anyway there's no need to be so sarcastic;)

chessboxer1

Sorry bout that. :D Sometimes the boards make me cranky....

Ok but for general system use, I'd see some increase? Using Vista 32bit and it's a real memory hog.chessboxer1

2GB is plenty for Vista. I'm running at 3GB in Vista and there is no appreciable gain in any application I use vs 2GB. Vista doesn't hog memory as much as people think. It runs very efficiently at 2GB.

Also, let ZBoater be cranky, he's earned it :)

[QUOTE="chessboxer1"]

Anyway there's no need to be so sarcastic;)

ZBoater

Sorry bout that. :D Sometimes the boards make me cranky....

no worries :)

[QUOTE="shanelevy"]

Wait so you aren't going to buy the ram or you aren't going to use windows vista 64 bit. The way you wrote it

" Yeah I've got Vista 64 kicking about somewhere. I doubt I will upgrade though, will put the money towards a brand new build in the New Year methinks!"

...it seems like you are still planning on buying the RAM. I'm confused, because that doesn't make any sense...

chessboxer1

Not buying the RAM. Using Vista 32 now. Have a copy of Vista 64. Enlightened?

Good. I'm still surprised someone so adept at the art of sarcasm was foolish enough to consider wasting money on a such a pointless ram upgrade, but that's beside the point.

[QUOTE="chessboxer1"][QUOTE="shanelevy"]

Wait so you aren't going to buy the ram or you aren't going to use windows vista 64 bit. The way you wrote it

" Yeah I've got Vista 64 kicking about somewhere. I doubt I will upgrade though, will put the money towards a brand new build in the New Year methinks!"

...it seems like you are still planning on buying the RAM. I'm confused, because that doesn't make any sense...

shanelevy

Not buying the RAM. Using Vista 32 now. Have a copy of Vista 64. Enlightened?

Good. I'm still surprised someone so adept at the art of sarcasm was foolish enough to consider wasting money on a such a pointless ram upgrade, but that's beside the point.

Yes pointless like your contributions to this thread.

Maybe not directly in gaming, but 4GB of system RAM will still make your system perform faster/smoother than with 2GB only. With the prices of RAM (particularly DDR2) falling as they are, it's stupid not to go ahead and buy 4GB if you can afford it.codezer0

Not unless you are using a 64bit OS, since 32bit OSes cant see all 4GB of RAM. No, it will not perform faster/smoother unless you have an application SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED to take advantage of the extra memory...

Not unless you are using a 64bit OS, since 32bit OSes cant see all 4GB of RAM. No, it will not perform faster/smoother unless you have an application SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED to take advantage of the extra memory...

ZBoater