When will the time come for 1024 RAM to become standard?

[GimieGimieGimie]

I currently run 512mb GeIL PC 3200 ram, but i notice a lot of systems are now running double that, like it's the norm now days.

I don't do anything fancy on my system like graphics design or photo editing YET :p

Only download porn, play games, watch movies, download funny flash movies, ya know, the usual stuff ;)

512mb suites me down to the ground, not slow on anything, my pc stats are as follows:

AMD ATHLON BARTON 3000 (2.1gigz)
512MB GeIL PC 3200 RAM
128MB ATI RADEON 9600 PRO
4x NEC DVD-RW (DUAL LAYER)
60GB 7200rpm FUJI HD

21 INCH CFT MONITOR
CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER 5.1
ASUS VX600 MOTHERBOARD
LOGITECH OPTICAL MOUSE
COREPAD GLASS MOUSE MAT

HP PHOTO PRINTER 5150
EPSON PERFECTION 6200
LOGITECH ZOOM 640x480 WEBCAM

I've been putting it together over the past 6-12 months, salvaging what ever i can on my budget :D

The only thing that lags behind on my system is the HD, but with my student budget, and since i'm always burning everything up on DVD's anyway, i don't see the point of upgrading it :p

So the big question on my lips these days is, when do you recommend me to upgrade my ram to the next stage, 1024mb?

When the next version of Windows comes out?

[Zak8022]

well, what kind of games do you play? if they are the newer, higher end games, the RAM could probably give a kick in the pants to your gaming experience.

or if you do alot of multitasking among normal windows apps.

a 512 stick of Kingston RAM can be had for $80 at Newegg. i just got some for one of my computers here at work. that shouldnt be too hard to scrounge up even on a tight budget.

[GimieGimieGimie]

Yeah, the graphics card is brand spanking new, only just purchased it.

So soon i plan to O/C it to play DOOM 3 and Half Life 2 with a little bit of extra cooling of course ;)

I'm pretty sure i could afford the extra 512mb, but it's whether or not it's worth anything to me in terms of performance at this very moment in time.

So, so far, an extra 512mb of ram would give me a better gaming experience.

Multi-tasking on Windows XP doesn't cause any slow downs as of yet.

What i'm thinking, is to leave my system at 512mb for at least a couple of months, or not even upgrade it at all, because towards the end of the year, i'll build completely brand new again anyway, and this pc will become my spare 2nd pc :D

So if i buy 512mb now, of PC3200 ram, it would be a waste of money in a sence, since my new Athlon XP based pc would run a faster different type of ram i assume, PC4000 isn't it?

[tarun]

512 MB SDRAM or DDR or RDRAM ? I have SDRAM :(

[FastGame]

So if i buy 512mb now, of PC3200 ram, it would be a waste of money in a sence, since my new Athlon XP based pc would run a faster different type of ram i assume, PC4000 isn't it?
PC 3200 runs just fine on a newer AMD A64 system ;)

Why would you even need to upgrade your present system, do you suffer from penis envy ?

[GimieGimieGimie]

PC 3200 runs just fine on a newer AMD A64 system ;)

Why would you even need to upgrade your present system, do you suffer from penis envy ?

LOL no...

Just asking a general question because it's interesting to know why new systems these days have 1 gig of ram, is it because it's time to have that much, or do people just have more money then sence? :)

Good to know about the PC3200!!! :D

[Reverend]

Always use at least 2 sticks of RAM. That way if one stick packs up you can still run the machine on the other one. ;)

[GimieGimieGimie]

Always use at least 2 sticks of RAM. That way if one stick packs up you can still run the machine on the other one. ;)

Wise words :D

[lynchknot]

I often hear for the most bang for buck - upgrade to more ram.

[beelzebub]

if you're not going to rebuild and make a new system go with an extra 512 stick, make sure it is the exact same ram as the other stick. 1 gig is always better than 512. Otherwise save up as much as possible .

[GimieGimieGimie]

512 MB SDRAM or DDR or RDRAM ? I have SDRAM :(

:(

I have DDR ram, SDRAM is so old now!

I think i will upgrade in the next couple of months, thanks guys, the most useful information i learned today, was that the PC3200 works in the new Athlon 64 set ups, that's perfect!

Means i can shift my 1gig of ram to my new pc when i make it early next year :D

Thanks for all your help and advice everyone, but if anyone still feels they want to add more to the topic, please feel free to do so! ;)

[Conan]

A couple of us guys have been running 1 gig of RAM for a while now: Rev, FastGame, Lynch, Boogs and myself. Did I leave anyone out?

[Zak8022]

i have 1gig.. but i'm not OG. lol.

tho i do only have it in 1 stick... ima bad boy. :(

[Conan]

i have 1gig.. but i'm not OG. lol.



OG? :confused:

[cash_site]

I think the key here is that most new processors support some sort of Dual Channel Memory configuration, especially P4 and 939... So the most common setup is to have 2x512 chips to make the 1Gb, however, its is more than fair to simply have 2x256 as there is only a slight performance upgrade for the standard users...

Just becareful Gimmie, when you want to transfer your chips to new MB, that the brand of memory is supported. FG might give some insight into the horrors of Generic DDR memory in AMD m/bs and chips. Choose good quality memory, and you should be 100% :D

[ashish]

well that should be pretty soon.. iread somewhere that for windows longhorn you night require as much as 512Mb to ensure smooth operation of your PC and have you seen the system requirements for the latest half life 2 game?
i think recommended is 512 Mb which normally means that in order to run it at midium or medium high settings you will require that much RAM

[Dehcbad25]

well, I have some input. At ashish Half life 2 has the more flexible requirements I have seen in a while. The requirements of 512 MB ram is to run it at high speed.
Gimmie having the Radeon9600 pro won't benefit much more than a couple of frames with 1 GB, so I don't think it is imperative. The RAM subsystem for gaming is just to offer a stable OS. Close all apps before you start playing, disable themes and it will be even better than 1 GB RAM. I even read somewhere how to set gaming profiles.
Gaming experience is affected in the following order
1 Video card subsystem
2 CPU subsystem
3 RAM subsystem
Geil is a kickass brand, very stable and lifetime warranty. They make excelent ram vor overclockers and gamers.
AS pointed out get the same type of RAM. Don't go with the kingstom, your RAM is better ;)
What series is the RAM? New egg had the blue series this week 512 for 80. Check the timings with CPU-Z, and the part number in the SPD section.
Since you said you are in a student budget I would recomend against the memory update. Honestely it won't give you much advantage, unless you run memory hungry aplications like Virtual PC.
I am going to give you the same advise I try to give me brother (but he has no clue on computers)
Your system is fine as it is. Instead of buying that RAM now, imagine you DID, and put the money in a savings account not to be touched. For the next upgrade do exactly the same. Then when you have 500 or more saved buy the parts, for a new PC, and you will have 2 PCs, with the same money that would end up spending wihtouth realizing0
Get a BTX board, with PCI and DDR2. PCI Express video card, a SATA drive, and a BTX case. Then you can add more RAM to that beast, a new card a year after, and some drives. I did that, and I am happy. (I did not do the leap you will di with that thought)
I decided to keep my cheap e-machines for a year and be happy with it during that time. Saved the money and bought most parts all together, but new technology. Now a year later my PC is still pretty good, and I have invested mainly on cosmetics part than anything else, withouth feeling broke.

[GimieGimieGimie]

Amazing advice Dehcbad25 :D

I was thinking along the same lines regarding the gaming part of things, i always close all applications excluding the internet connection before opening a power hungry game.

It's just common sence.

There are always limitations, whether it's money or technical, so it is required by us to make sacrifices to get the best of what we want :D

I just had no idea how much RAM modern games take up these days, Windows XP takes up most of one of my 256mb sticks, i say 180mb for just idle running :p

So i was just wondering, if a an additonal 320mb of ram is enough for the running of modern day games, because i already know it's fine for all the applications i run, even high resolution scanning is fine ;)

[PIPER]

PC 3200 runs just fine on a newer AMD A64 system ;)

Why would you even need to upgrade your present system, do you suffer from penis envy ?

ROTFLMAO...... :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p ...too much fast...wah ha ha

[Dehcbad25]

aditional 320 MB?
Which version of Geil do you have??
if you want to upgrade to 1 GB you probably can start to customize your desktop and put it on the thread :p
Just a test. I run my system in dual monitor, so I leave the task manager open. I am currently using 435 MB of RAM and 4 % CPU
I have Yahoo, MSN, OUtlook with 6 accounts, 2 web pages, WINRAR, Windows Explorer open. I am going to go and open Need For Speed Underground and see what happens....Be right back

[joshsiao]

Always use at least 2 sticks of RAM. That way if one stick packs up you can still run the machine on the other one. ;)

Well some have 4 sticks. Eg 1 working stick and 3 other duds to protect the slot.

[Dehcbad25]

OK, it was hard, but I finished my test :p
Loading the game at the presentation I was already 100% CPU and 477 RAM
488 When I loaded my UInderground profule
Drag Race 517 MB
Circuit 561
End of the 3 lap circuit 577 (saves the state of the crashed signs and such)
Second time I played 580 MB
After 30 minutes play more or less the memory was around thatr.
I had everything turned on (graphics quality) and set on high. Except I didn't use Motion blur (it makes me sick :P)
THE CPU was at 100% all the time
From 435 to 580 there is 150 MB (Man, that game eats lots of RAM :P)