1GB vs 4GB RAM

[Legolash2o]

Hi i have currently got windows vista x64 utlimate on my computer with 1GB RAM, i was wondering what benefits i would get if i chose to upgrade to 4gb ram n would i notice a big difference lol? more detail the better

My current ram is crucial 1 GB PC2700 DDR RAM (ct12864z335) and plannining on buying 3 more

Mobo: MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum - Supports Dual Channel

AMD 3000+ (Planning on upgrading to a dualcore)

Also got the patch which fixes 3GB+

Thanks in advance

Edited October 4, 2007 by legolash2o

[bledd]

you're better off running 2x 1gb sticks in dual channel mode

check here for uk bargins http://forums.hexus.net/forumdisplay.php?f=22

[Legolash2o]

already got a good bargain (£30 for 3 1gb sticks). i think i need more than 2 gb cos i also use my computer for programming (Visual Studio 2005), music and web browsing, VMWare, some games too...

is dual channel set in BIOS?

Edited October 4, 2007 by legolash2o

[Mercury_22]

It seems that optimal amount of memory for vista it's 2GB, but you may want to add more according to the memory requirement of your APPs! Also DUAL CHANNEL configuration it's a MUST !

In my opinion 2GB it's OK ! B) but, (since your OS is x64) 4GB it's better!

[Legolash2o]

how would dual channel effect the speed, also would i notice a difference lol

If my BIOS only picks up 3GB would windows pick up 4GB or same as BIOS

Edited October 4, 2007 by legolash2o

[puntoMX]

how would dual channel effect the speed, also would i notice a difference lol

If my BIOS only picks up 3GB would windows pick up 4GB or same as BIOS

I would also know why dual channel is a MUST have.

Legolash2o, why would your BIOS just pick up 3 sticks of 4? Don’t you worry about that, it will see 4 sticks.

By the way, Windows can’t let the computer "see" more system RAM while it’s not there when booting up.

[Legolash2o]

it says on my motherboard manufactuere website and i quote....

Due to the South Bridge resource deployment, the system density will only be detected up to 3+ GB (not full 4GB) when each DIMM is installed with an 1GB memory module

[Mercury_22]

I would also know why dual channel is a MUST have.

Because of the speed difference between single channel and dual channel! Like the difference between single disk drive and RAID 0. B)

Edited October 4, 2007 by Mercury_22

[puntoMX]

it says on my motherboard manufactuere website and i quote....

Due to the South Bridge resource deployment, the system density will only be detected up to 3+ GB (not full 4GB) when each DIMM is installed with an 1GB memory module

Yes, some will be lost but not a whole GB. Let´s say 0.2 to 0.3 GB .

I would also know why dual channel is a MUST have.

Because of the speed difference between single channel and dual chanell! Like the difference between single disk drive and RAID 0. B)

No no my friend, it doesn’t work like that, especially not when iNTEL uses bigger cache and AMD his build in memory controller. You would be glad to see real life performance, IF you already can see (notice) it. Please, don’t compare it to RAID, I know that most people did that 5 years ago, but it’s simply not true…

[bledd]

dual channel really is a noticeable difference, check for bios updates for your motherboard, there might be one that allows 4gb addressing

failing that, you'll either have to stick with 2gb ddr dual channel (get 3200 by the way, not 2700's) or upgrade mobo/ram/cpu to an am2 or a core2duo setup

[Legolash2o]

im planning on getting a dualcore aswell, but my ram currently is PC2700 which means the 3200 would run slower, wont it?

already got latest bios update

also i might just get another 1gb stick so ill have 2x 1gb in dual channel

Edited October 4, 2007 by legolash2o

[bledd]

get 2x 1gb 3200 sticks

[Legolash2o]

i prefer to keep my pc2700 and get another 1 rather than get 2 new pc3200, cheaper. just have 2gb total is good enough for me cos my vista ram usage is like 80% lol but would i notice a speed difference

hopefully gonna get a amd 4600+ too

Edited October 4, 2007 by legolash2o

[nmX.Memnoch]

It seems that optimal amount of memory for vista it's 2GB, but you may want to add more according to the memory requirement of your APPs! Also DUAL CHANNEL configuration it's a MUST !

In my opinion 2GB it's OK ! B) but, (since your OS is x64) 4GB it's better!

That's not the "optimal", that's the sweet spot where you get a noticeable performance difference over say 512MB or 1GB. 4GB certainly isn't going make the machine perform slower than 2GB.

it says on my motherboard manufactuere website and i quote....

Due to the South Bridge resource deployment, the system density will only be detected up to 3+ GB (not full 4GB) when each DIMM is installed with an 1GB memory module

This is due to limitations of the chipset and the way memory is addressed. When you have 4GB PCI devices will take some as will your graphics card (the bigger the frame buffer on your video card, the more system memory will be reserved for it). Don't worry though, the system "sees" the full 4GB.

And yes, x64 operating systems will show that you have 4GB installed. What it doesn't tell you is that it can't use/address all of it (again, depending on how many devices you have installed and how much RAM is on your video card). The system properties page will in fact show "4GB".

Attached is a screenshot example of what a 32-bit OS shows for a system with 4GB (taken from my work computer). This particular system has several PCI devices and a 256MB video card.

See this thread for more information.

Edited October 4, 2007 by nmX.Memnoch

[Legolash2o]

thanks, im on x64 and just have Radeon x550 on my PCI-E, X-FI Xtreme Music & USB + Firewire PCI Card...

Edited October 4, 2007 by legolash2o