Community weekly poll: How much RAM do you currently have in your main computer?
- 7/26/06 5:19 PM
Yes! 2 GB minimum in new system...
by Zeppo - 7/28/06 11:47 AM In reply to: Better Question: How much RAM would you put in a New PC? by fatboy97Todays Window XP based systems work comfortably with 2 GB. Those, such as myself, who often use memory intensive programs should opt for 4 GB.
I use a database program (with a large database) that would take 3 to 4 times longer doing searches with 2 GB, when compared with 4 GB. Too, maintaining the database with its tools to update its index and improve its search capability are much faster with 4 GB.
With MS Apps 1 GB is minimum requirement
by ramboman5780 - 7/28/06 4:29 AM In reply to: How much RAM do you currently have in your main computer? by Marc Bennett
When I think about the 1 GB RAM installed on my PC, I also remember the good old times when my 386 worked really fast with just 4 MB RAM and 200 MB HDD. Today's PCs can't work if they have anything less than 512 MB RAM. Add MS-Office Apps, Symantec AntiVirus and 1 GB seems crawling.
I wonder if MS and Intel are working together to take people back to the days of massive computers (who knows, 10 years down the line, we may be sitting with a coputer that occupies a floor, has 10,000 GB of RAM, a few hundred terabytes of HDD, all this just to run Windows 2017)
Stable above 2GB?
by Ri12345 - 7/28/06 4:39 AM In reply to: How much RAM do you currently have in your main computer? by Marc Bennett
I'm a photographer processing all my images (digital) myself. I run 2GB (dual channel) of mushkin RAM on my AMD Athlon 64 3800+ system. I can upgrade to 4GB, but have been advised not to do so as it could make my system unstable or even slower. Any advice from anyone else on this issue? I'd certainly like more RAM than 2GB.
thanks.
Unstable at 4 GB???
by Zeppo - 7/28/06 12:20 PM In reply to: Stable above 2GB? by Ri12345In a word, NO! Who gave you such advice??
My motherboard is an ASUS AN8-SLI Premium. My processor is AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+. I run 4 GB DDR 400 (PC3200) and it is as solid as a rock.
If you have the same motherboard I have, the best RAM you can get for it is two sets of matched pairs of Corsair TWINX2048-3500LLPro. (Two sets = 4 1GB DIMMs) This RAM will run at 2.5-3-3-6 T2 timing with memory voltage set to 2.75 @ 400Mhz with 4 GB installed. This is very good, quick timing for 4 GB or RAM. Most average RAM (CAS3) will run only at 3-6-6-8 T2 timing @ a reduced 333Mhz.
If you have a different motherboard, I would suggest going to Corsair's site (www.corsair.com). If you know what motherboard you have or you have a commercially built computer, you can find out what type of RAM will work for your system.
But if you have the motherboard I have above, it would be best to replace all the RAM with TWINX2048-3500LLPro at one time. While this RAM will work in other motherboards, it was designed specifically for the AN8-SLI and A8N32-SLI motherboards. You can eBay your old RAM to recoupe some of your costs. BTW, this Corsair RAM is NOT more costly than from any other maker of good, fast RAM.
Beleive me, you will be much happier with 4 GB of this fast RAM. And unstable?? Perhaps you know someone who has had bad experiences with 4 GB - maybe the DIMMs were not all the same maker and type.
This is what I was told
by Ri12345 - 7/29/06 6:09 AM In reply to: Unstable at 4 GB??? by ZeppoHere is what someone on another forum told me:
hummm im a member of techpowerup.com forums (computers) i do a lot of modding and snuff with computers... more than 2gbs can cause instability with amd computers as the memory controller is in teh processor and not on the motherboard. It will run but most likely you will have some sort of issue, and you may see performance actually decrease.. i would be better to get high quality ram with tighter timmings for faster loads... like a 2gb duel channel ddr400 OCZ platnum kit 2-3-2-5 (what i use in my computer)... or if you overclock (im doubting this highly as this is a photography forum) you may want some ddr500 ram, but if not dont get it.
in your bios if you have more than 2gb if may automaticly switch it to 2t proccessing intead of 1t (1t is faster) and may not let you use duel channel wich is faster... get fast ram dotn skimp on ram as its a ver vital part of your pc."
BTW, I have the ASUS A8N-E motherboard and currently using dual channel mushkin 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) (2 sticks). Any advice you have will be appreciated!
thanks,
instability? I think not.
by FunkBunny - 7/30/06 2:20 AM In reply to: This is what I was told by Ri123454 gb of ram will not cause instability if they are of the same speed. But if they are of different speeds than each other it can cause problems but not necesarily. Usually the speed will default to the lowest speed of the slowest memory. Thus making your computer slower acting. But it will not cause any problems.
4 GB RAM - Yes!
by Zeppo - 8/2/06 9:34 AM In reply to: This is what I was told by Ri12345Well, I have the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium motherboard and am currently using 2 GB of Corsair PC 3500 433Mhz RAM (known as TWINX2048-3500LLPRO - a matched 2 GB pair). This is fast RAM - 2-3-2-6 T1 timing. I have purchased another 2 GB of this same RAM, which is to arrive today.
At the moment, however, I have the Corsair 2 GB installed with 2 GB Crucial (Micron RAM), which can run at 2.5-3-3-6 but is advertised as 3-3-3-8 RAM. I have all 4 GB installed running at 3-3-3-8 T2, memory voltage at 2.75, 400Mhz. And yes, when all slots are filled you must go to T2! And I've learned that you must install your RAM in pairs if you want dual channels.
You might ask, since I am currently running my RAM at 400Mhz with 3-3-3-8 timing what I hope to achieve by replacing the Curcial with 2 GB of the same Corsair RAM? Well, I've also learned it is best to have all RAM the exact same and I know for a fact that the 2 GB of Corsair 3500LLPRO RAM is automatically detected by my motherboard at 2.5-3-3-6 timing, not the 3-3-3-8 timing most other RAM is detected at. So, since the Corsair is faster RAM, when I have ALL 4 DIMM slots filled with Corsair 3500LLPRO, I'm hoping I will get 2.5-3-3-6 T2 @ 400Mhz. I know I cannot get 2-3-2-6, the fast timing for this RAM. It's just not possible with all slot filled. But 2.5-3-3-6 is very good timing!
Notice too, I said 400Mhz, NOT 333Mhz. I had to manually set the RAM to run at 400Mhz with 4 DIMM slot filled, and it will on my motherboard.
Now, as the memory controller in the CPU – who cares if it's on the motherboard or in the CPU? Maybe it would be better on the motherboard but AMD doesn’t seem to think so. Anyway, I need more RAM for the programs I use. 2 GB is just NOT enough. And I can assure you that I have not noticed ANY instability at all with 4 GB of RAM installed. Absolutely NONE!!
I have no clue as to why some one would tell you 4 GB of RAM run by an AMD CPU would be unstable. It is simply not true.
Gotta go with the scientific method and develop controls
by ackmondual - 8/2/06 5:05 PM In reply to: Unstable at 4 GB??? by ZeppoNice thing about these user forums is you'll typically get good amount of feedback. Unfortunate thing is many of them are casual users who don't seem to know how to properly experiment with these questions. The scientific method may be drummed the minds of scientists, but it also applies here as well. Variables such DIMM slots, bios settings, user error, and other potentially defective PC parts can all be to blame instead, but something we'll never know. Other variables include malicious software or utilities in general that may cause said instability.
(NT) 1.5G
by mrshanno - 7/28/06 4:45 AM In reply to: How much RAM do you currently have in your main computer? by Marc Bennett
1.5G but there was no choice for this
by tompbl - 7/28/06 4:47 AM In reply to: How much RAM do you currently have in your main computer? by Marc Bennett
Came with 512MB and I added an additional 1G for a total of 1.5G of RAM.
Same
by ubrikkean - 7/28/06 5:35 AM In reply to: 1.5G but there was no choice for this by tompblSame deal for me, 512 -> 1536, and no choice 
1.5G
by dsbicu - 7/28/06 7:02 AM In reply to: 1.5G but there was no choice for this by tompblNo option Can't vote
same here. 1.5GB should've been a voting option
by ackmondual - 7/28/06 8:37 AM In reply to: 1.5G but there was no choice for this by tompblI also wanted to see the results, so I choose 1GB from averaging out my home and office PCs. My home PC has two 256MB and two 512MB for Dual Channel support. It's also PC3200 speed.
It just seems really unusual to cover every increment of RAM but miss 1.5GB
Glad to see I'm not the only one with 1.5 Gb
by l5n25 - 7/28/06 7:29 PM In reply to: 1.5G but there was no choice for this by tompblThis choice seems to be a bit of an oversight by the poll makers.
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