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4GB or 2GB? suggestions

Which option for RAM would be best as of now?

  • get 2x 1GB high end DDR2-1066

    Votes: 12 57.1%
  • get 4x 1GB high end DDR2-1066

    Votes: 5 23.8%
  • get 2x 2GB low end DDR2-800

    Votes: 4 19.0%

  • Total voters
    21

mk_ln

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Hi, I was planning on upgrading to Vista x64 and was wondering what would be the best option. would it be better to get high end 2x 1GB memory or lower end 2x 2GB memory? which would give me better performance? (i actually plan on dual booting with XP x86 and Vista x64)

i have read some links on the benefit of 4GB (in a 64bit OS) and have also noticed that vista is a resource hog. I originally was hoping to just get high end 4x 1GB as that is significantly cheaper than high end 2x 2GB. are the 2GB modules likely to go down in price anytime soon?

thanks in advance :)

btw: i would be getting rid of my current RAM as it is going into a standby comp.
 
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Well RAM prices are actually pretty low where you can get Micron D9s for under $100 for a 2GB set in the US.
I would say go high end as it will not limit your OCing ability.
You should look at Ballistix or Firestix DDR2-800 RAM and OC the hell outta them :)

Plus it was also shown that 2GB for Vista works good.
However, when you use 4GB the OS uses more RAM, even though it works perfectly fine with only 2GB.
I am guessing the more RAM you have, the more RAM the OS will use.
 
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mk_ln

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wow, thanks for the quick replies :). so you guys suggest a faster 2GB set would be better?

thanks again ;)
 
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No, I'm saying for a 64bit OS 2 of those 2gb kits would be better. 4gb total.
 
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Thats a good price.
But I would rather get the Crucial Ballistix for about $75 (2 x 1GB set) at buy.com

Holy crap! Me too!:rockout:

*I do not purchase stuff from buy.com.
 
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wow, thanks for the quick replies :). so you guys suggest a faster 2GB set would be better?

thanks again ;)

I would suggest getting a set with Micron D9 chips (ex: Buffalo Firestix, G Skill (Black heatsinks) or the Crucial Ballstix DDR2-800 sets).

Just remember this:
An Intel platform will benefit more with higher frequencies and looser timings. For example DDR2-1000 5-5-5-15 will be better than DDR2-800 3-3-3-9.
However, an AMD platform will benefit from tighter timings and lower freq. For example DDR2-800 3-3-3-9will be better than DDR2-1000 5-5-5-15.

Just take a look at this thread and it will help you
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=30822


EDIT: Right now 4GBs is overkill and nothing will use it (unless you are running a server).
So get 2 GBs now of good RAM and then upgrade later to 4GB when it is needed.
 

mk_ln

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oops forgot to mention im in canada lol...makes it harder to decide w/o the same e-tailors :p
 
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mk_ln

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thanks for the replies.

i would be able to get 2GB DDR2-1066 for about 150 after MIR and Tax, but im still deciding on what i should do:

1) get 2x 1GB high end DDR2-1066
2) get 4x 1GB high end DDR2-1066
3) get 2x 2GB low end DDR2-800

price wise, the options 2 and 3 are about the same, and option 1 is about half that price.

any more suggestions? (right now looks like 50/50 as bruins is suggesting 2x 1GB and erocker is suggesting 2x 2GB and i am still on the fence with about 3 hours before i need to make a decision lol)

thanks again
 

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I say if you really want 4gb so bad, get the 2 x 2gb so you can upgrade later.
 

JrRacinFan

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I say if you really want 4gb so bad, get the 2 x 2gb so you can upgrade later.

Yes but by the time he needs more RAM, he will probably need to upgrade everything else in the computer as well.

I say shoot for the high end 2x1GB set.
 
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thanks for the replies.

i would be able to get 2GB DDR2-1066 for about 150 after MIR and Tax, but im still deciding on what i should do:

1) get 2x 1GB high end DDR2-1066
2) get 4x 1GB high end DDR2-1066
3) get 2x 2GB low end DDR2-800

price wise, the options 2 and 3 are about the same, and option 1 is about half that price.

any more suggestions? (right now looks like 50/50 as bruins is suggesting 2x 1GB and erocker is suggesting 2x 2GB and i am still on the fence with about 3 hours before i need to make a decision lol)

thanks again

MK ask yourself one question.
Is this computer going to be a server?
It sounds like it isnt and if it isnt then you dont need 4GB of RAM, b/c nothing (except graphic design) will use up the 4GB.
All you would need is 2GB and still nothing would use that up as of now.
 

mk_ln

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i appreciate all the replies

im gonna add a poll to this and hope i can get more input in the next 2 hours, though bruin's reasoning makes some sense.

thanks again :)
 
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i appreciate all the replies

im gonna add a poll to this and hope i can get more input in the next 2 hours, though bruin's reasoning makes some sense.

thanks again :)

I would say save your money for something you might need later.
Like a DX10 card for later on in the year (Q3 is Crysis) or a nice LCD HDTV (I am looking at one for myself :))
 

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that OCZ Platinum 2GB you currently are using is some awesome ram. Why on earth would you want to upgrade it?


Id go with 2 x 1GB DDR-1066 Ram. OCZ has killer ram. However, the Buffalo Firestix and the GSkill with black heat spreaders is going for a great price now on newegg.com and Im sure as well on buy.com.
 

mk_ln

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the ram i currently have is going in another machine, so im upgrading the RAM in my current one. ive seen the amazing prices on newegg and buy.com, but sadly, they don't ship to Canada. also, with the companies that do ship to Canada, if i choose to get something from them i will also have to pay a customs fee.

i have a little more than an hour and a half left before i have to pull the trigger lol

thanks again :)
 
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that OCZ Platinum 2GB you currently are using is some awesome ram. Why on earth would you want to upgrade it?


Id go with 2 x 1GB DDR-1066 Ram. OCZ has killer ram. However, the Buffalo Firestix and the GSkill with black heat spreaders is going for a great price now on newegg.com and Im sure as well on buy.com.

The OCZ Plat. and Gold series of DDR2 RAM is not that great when compared to the other selections out there.
Both of these are now considered budget or mid range RAM since the timings are par and these use PROMO chips which dont OC well at all (it is worse than Epilida and Micron D9s).
 

mk_ln

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The OCZ Plat. and Gold series of DDR2 RAM is not that great when compared to the other selections out there.
Both of these are now considered budget or mid range RAM since the timings are par and these use PROMO chips which dont OC well at all (it is worse than Epilida and Micron D9s).

which is exactly why i was looking at the Firestix and OCZ 8500s ;).

after some re-evaluation, my selection would be limited to the following:

Buffalo firestix PC2-6400: 2x 1GB = 119.99 (~143 total after shipping and taxes)
OCZ PC2-8500: 2x 1GB = 169.99 - 40MIR (~161 Total)
G-Skill PC2-6400 (6-6-6-18): 2x 2GB = 269.99 (~302 Total)
 
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mk_ln

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nice, except i would have to pay a customs fee as i am in Canada which often makes deals not so hot.
 
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Do you have to pay custom fees on every item you ship into the country?
Also if it's a present?
 

mk_ln

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i have heard that there are ways to circumvent the customs fee. one of those being gifts, as you suggested, and warranty service. kind of a hassle though.
 
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The problem with 2 x 2GB sets is that the timings suck on them currently.
The reason for that is bc it is harder to get better timings and freq. when you put more memory on 1 stick of RAM.
This will also limit your OCing potential.

So 1GB is easier to OC to better timings than 2GB.

Now if you are going to OC, I would suggest the Firestix since they can run 3-3-3-10 at DDR2-800 and can go well beyond DDR2-1066 from what I have seen.
If you arent going to OC then go with the OCZ.
 
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2 of the 2x1gb sets of Gskill ddr800 overclock like crazy! Some games + vista will take you over 2gb of memory.
And by no means would I call it "low end" memory.
 
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