posted
Okay..so I am really seriously considering getting more RAM for my SL addiction (yes, it has come to that..poor me and poor SO).
I have this computer, which was gotten for a really good deal at Best Buy.
However, I suspect that if I'm to really play SL, I am probably going to need to upgrade the RAM to at least 2 gigs.
Here in lies the question: The computer comes with 2 512 ram sticks now. Should I consider getting one 1 gig stick to add on, or get two 512 sticks.
Or can I alternately get 2 1 gig sticks and still have the 2 512 for a total of 3 gigs? I don't really know the ins and outs of RAM, so any advice/suggestions/help is welcome.
-------------------- Tom, we're flying a giant robot into space! "Safe" isn't the first word that springs to mind! - Colleen, Last Hope, Vol.2 Posts: 2710 | From: Meet me in St. Louis | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I buy memory exclusively from Crucial. Their prices are outstanding, they have an online scan to ensure you're ordering the right memory, and will also tell you how much memory your motherboard will allow. Oh, and they ship super-fast, too (it's never taken longer than 3 days for anything).
That's the only recommendation I can give you.
-------------------- "When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty."--George Bernard Shaw Posts: 19266 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Jun 2002
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Most of the new northbridge chipsets use dual-channel memory, which works faster if you have, say, 2 512MB DIMMs instead of 1 1GB DIMM. So you'd want to buy 2 sticks and not one. You can run 2 1GB and 2 512GB DIMMs, but 3MB is a bit of overkill unless you're working on large graphic/video/CAD files.
I just upgraded my system on monday...only bought 1GB for it since I had to upgrade to DDR2 memory, and I already miss the extra gig Have to wait until I sell off the old stuff and I'll get another 2 512MB DIMMs.
-------------------- "My neighbor asked why anyone would need a car that can go 190 mph. If the answer isn't obvious, and explaination won't help." - Csabe Csere Posts: 1225 | From: Wichita, Kansas | Registered: Nov 2003
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Personal preference. Get 1 1gig stick. This allows you to upgrade to more later without trashing what you have. Be sure to get the same type of RAM though. The thing about getting 2 1gig sticks, is you may not need it and it would be overkill. If it comes down that at some point in the future that you do need it, you can always get another one.
-------------------- Wherever ya go, there ya are. Posts: 816 | From: Florida | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Not_Done_Living: No such thing as too much RAM. The more you have the faster everything is.
Especially with Windows.
You're not serious, right?
-------------------- "When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty."--George Bernard Shaw Posts: 19266 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Jun 2002
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Why? Some computers (like mine) won't run if you have three memory chips in them. You can use one memory slot, two memory slots with the same size chip (e.g. 2x512mb), or four memory slots of two same-size pairings (e.g. a 2x512mb and a 2x1gb.) Hopefully you got a motherboard manual for that computer, it should tell you what slot combinations are acceptable.
The reason to get two 1gb sticks is because you've only got four slots; the next time you upgrade, you're going to be removing two sticks of RAM. More memory puts that day off, and it also reduces costs in the long run. If you buy a pair of 512s and realize you really want another gig of memory, you've wasted the money you spent on your current RAM, since you don't have any open memory slots and will have to throw two sticks of RAM out.
Posts: 236 | From: Iowa | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Not_Done_Living: No such thing as too much RAM. The more you have the faster everything is.
Especially with Windows.
You're not serious, right?
Well, Vista is coming out soon. You never know how much memory it's going to hog...
-------------------- "My neighbor asked why anyone would need a car that can go 190 mph. If the answer isn't obvious, and explaination won't help." - Csabe Csere Posts: 1225 | From: Wichita, Kansas | Registered: Nov 2003
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[hijack]*blink* *blink* Did I read that correctly? Another SL addict?? What's your avie's name? I'm MadJay Vinson.[/hijack]
I have 1 GB on my laptop, and SL works fine after I shut down word, outlook, etc, etc. I have even run 2 instances at the same time. What's your video card like? SL is graphics-heavy. Getting a good video card will help too.
ETA: Googled around a bit to look for better specs for you computer and found that it has a Nvidia GeForce 6150 video card with 256 MB shared RAM. Is that right?
You might want to think about upgrading your video card instead of memory. 1GB of memory is fine for SL. That card is mainly for viewing videos, not for gaming. SL needs a lot of processing on the video card, because it needs to burn all those textures together and handle particles.
-------------------- Nico Sasha In between my father's fields;And the citadels of the rule; Lies a no-man's land which I must cross; To find my stolen jewel. Posts: 4912 | From: VA | Registered: Jul 2003
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-------------------- Tom, we're flying a giant robot into space! "Safe" isn't the first word that springs to mind! - Colleen, Last Hope, Vol.2 Posts: 2710 | From: Meet me in St. Louis | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Mad Jay: [hijack]*blink* *blink* Did I read that correctly? Another SL addict?? What's your avie's name? I'm MadJay Vinson.[/hijack]
I have 1 GB on my laptop, and SL works fine after I shut down word, outlook, etc, etc. I have even run 2 instances at the same time. What's your video card like? SL is graphics-heavy. Getting a good video card will help too.
ETA: Googled around a bit to look for better specs for you computer and found that it has a Nvidia GeForce 6150 video card with 256 MB shared RAM. Is that right?
You might want to think about upgrading your video card instead of memory. 1GB of memory is fine for SL. That card is mainly for viewing videos, not for gaming. SL needs a lot of processing on the video card, because it needs to burn all those textures together and handle particles.
Hmm..I hadn't considered the video card. It is a 6150. Could that also be the reason it sounds like my hard drive is chugging away at a phenominal speed?
I may have to look at the specs for the card then.
I sort of gave up last night after it crashed on me twice. I ended up killing snails and mushrooms on Maple Story. Damn, it's addictive.
Oh, avie's name is Milana Cavan.
-------------------- Tom, we're flying a giant robot into space! "Safe" isn't the first word that springs to mind! - Colleen, Last Hope, Vol.2 Posts: 2710 | From: Meet me in St. Louis | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I'd probably recommend a video card be added to the system to beef up performance and visual quality. Going with that, any video card you pick (whether it be ATI or NVIDIA based) will be a major power hog. You'll probably have to upgrade the power supply as well. HP/Compaq tends to install fairly conservative power supplies into their desktops that only account for the base power requirement of all the devices that are already in the system. I'd recommend a good midrange card, say a NVIDIA 7600GS or GT, or an ATI 1600XT based card. For a power supply, go with an Antec, at least 450 watts, but probably 500 watts is a better bet.
As for the original inquiry, go with a dual channel memory kit. 4gb is your max memory capability, but you'll never need that much. 2gb is a much more realistic number. I'd say go with memory from a reputable manufacturer like Crucial, Kingston, OCZ etc.
-------------------- Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor.
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Have to wait until I sell off the old stuff and I'll get another 2 512MB DIMMs.
