RAM

Ask the few things google does not know

Moderator: Dictators in Training

Narrock
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 16679
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:54 pm
Location: Folsom, CA

RAM

Post by Narrock »

I have 1gb of Ram right now. I'm also playing EQ2 regularly. I was thinking about buying another gig of ram to boost performance. My question is... Is 2gb of Ram going to make a noticeable performance improvement, or should I just stick with the 1 gig I have?

I have 2 512mb sticks of Mushkin DDR333 PC2700 (level 2) right now.
“The more I study science the more I believe in God.” -- Albert Einstein
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

Post your full system specs.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
User avatar
Lyion
Admin Abuse Squad
Admin Abuse Squad
Posts: 14376
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:42 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: RAM

Post by Lyion »

Mindia wrote:I have 1gb of Ram right now. I'm also playing EQ2 regularly. I was thinking about buying another gig of ram to boost performance. My question is... Is 2gb of Ram going to make a noticeable performance improvement, or should I just stick with the 1 gig I have?



You'll see a few points increase, but not a major boost. Going to a faster 1 gig of RAM will make a more noticeable bump than just raising your raw memory size.

It's not worth it, IMO. If you have a gig of RAM, unless you are running an assload of TSRs then you are good to go on the memory requirements.

If you want to your PC to fly, my recommendations would be:

Use a 939 Motherboard with a fast AMD Chip.
Get a Raptor Drive.
A Gig of Dual DDR RAM.
Get a 256Meg 6800 GT Video card.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C. S. Lewis
Narrock
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 16679
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:54 pm
Location: Folsom, CA

Post by Narrock »

current system config:

Amd Athlon XP2500 OC'd
Gigabyte NForce3 mobo
1 gig pc2700 ram
Nvidia 6800GT OC (BFG Tech)
7200rpm Barracuda drive

3.1mbps cable connection.

So, 1 gig of PC4200 or 4400 will be more effective than 2gigs of PC2700?
“The more I study science the more I believe in God.” -- Albert Einstein
User avatar
Lyion
Admin Abuse Squad
Admin Abuse Squad
Posts: 14376
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:42 pm
Location: Ohio

Post by Lyion »

A 10k Raptor Hard Drive would do a ton more than upgrading your RAM. It's fine.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C. S. Lewis
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

Yeah everything is fine, even upgrading your hard drive will only effect load times.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
Narrock
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 16679
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:54 pm
Location: Folsom, CA

Post by Narrock »

ok thanks
“The more I study science the more I believe in God.” -- Albert Einstein
User avatar
Lyion
Admin Abuse Squad
Admin Abuse Squad
Posts: 14376
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:42 pm
Location: Ohio

Post by Lyion »

Harrison wrote:Yeah everything is fine, even upgrading your hard drive will only effect load times.


Upgrading the Hard Drive will result in an overall faster system, not just load times.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C. S. Lewis
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

The only way someone will really notice it without benchmarks typically will be load times in a game like EQ2.

That is just my opinion. He doesn't seem like a hardware/computer geek like I am and will likely not notice it beyond that given example.

But that example will be a significant improvement in itself.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
Narrock
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 16679
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:54 pm
Location: Folsom, CA

Post by Narrock »

If I get a 10,000 rpm SATA HD, can I transfer all my data from my current HD to the new one?
“The more I study science the more I believe in God.” -- Albert Einstein
User avatar
Diekan
NT Deity
NT Deity
Posts: 5736
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:14 am

Post by Diekan »

The HD is the only device still using movable parts in your computer (besides the fans). I can't wait till they come out with an affordable solid state HD. Talk about fast? Windows will be loaded before your screen brigthens up when you turn the system on.
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

I don't understand why they don't do it already.

It CAN be done, I know it can.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

Mindia wrote:If I get a 10,000 rpm SATA HD, can I transfer all my data from my current HD to the new one?


Yes, if your motherboard supports SATA.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
User avatar
Diekan
NT Deity
NT Deity
Posts: 5736
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:14 am

Post by Diekan »

Harrison wrote:I don't understand why they don't do it already.

It CAN be done, I know it can.


It's like everything else technology wise. They're gonna milk it. I am pretty sure they had the technology to develop a gig processor back when the 350 was "fast." But, rather than jump to the "end" it's actually smart business to release the chips gradually. 350 this year - 450 next year - 500 the year after and so on. It's good logical business.

At least that's how I understand it.
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

Same thing with the CD and derivatives IMO

It's much more logical to do away with CD players and have it all with FLASH cards etc. (more storage space and much more reliable)
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
Tossica
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 12490
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:21 pm

Post by Tossica »

Solid state is expensive. They COULD make a 200GB solid state drive but would you want to pay $20,000 for it?
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

A solid state drive of 20-30gb wouldn't be $20k (20-30gb is perfectly fine for most people)

That being said I have a 120gb drive and couldn't hurt to have more but I don't.

The technology is there, it's just not being utilized if you ask me.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
Tossica
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 12490
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:21 pm

Post by Tossica »

ok, do you want to pay $3K for your 30GB drive?
Tossica
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 12490
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:21 pm

Post by Tossica »

We had solid state drives at the PC shop I worked at over 10 years ago but a 512MB drive cost like $2200 back then. The technology is there, yes. The price point is the problem.
Narrock
NT Patron
NT Patron
Posts: 16679
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:54 pm
Location: Folsom, CA

Post by Narrock »

Harrison wrote:
Mindia wrote:If I get a 10,000 rpm SATA HD, can I transfer all my data from my current HD to the new one?


Yes, if your motherboard supports SATA.


It does. Actually, it's an NForce2 board, not NForce 3. Here's what it says on the box:

K7 Triton series
AGP 8x/Dual Channel DDR
Nvidia NForce Chipset (NForce 2)
Socket A
4 DDR (Dual-CH) / LAN
6-CH Audio / USB2.0 / 1394
SATA / RAID / ATA133

Probably a nOOb board by today's standards, but it has worked flawlessly for the year that I've had it.
“The more I study science the more I believe in God.” -- Albert Einstein
Weazilla
NT Aviak
NT Aviak
Posts: 59
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:55 pm

Post by Weazilla »

speaking of hard drives, my computer has started making some clicking and grinding noises. Is my hard drive about to die or what's up with that?
User avatar
Diekan
NT Deity
NT Deity
Posts: 5736
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:14 am

Post by Diekan »

Well, I have a good way for you to test your computer, it works great.

1. Fill your bath tub full of warm water.
2. Get your computer tower and plug into a nearby outlet (close to the tub), get an extension cord if needed.
3. Get undressed.
4. Sit in the bath tub.
5. Make sure your completely soaked.
6. Turn the computer on.
7. Drop the computer into the tub, perferably down by your feet.
8. If you feel a tingle - then your computer is fine. If not then you need a new one.
User avatar
Phlegm
Nappy Headed Ho
Nappy Headed Ho
Posts: 6258
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2004 5:50 pm

Post by Phlegm »

Diekan wrote:8. If you feel a tingle - then your computer is fine. If not then you need a new one.


This will only tell you that the power supply works. You will need another test to see if the computer work.
Weazilla
NT Aviak
NT Aviak
Posts: 59
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:55 pm

Post by Weazilla »

hmm that just might work... brb I'll try it.
User avatar
Harrison
NT Legend
NT Legend
Posts: 20323
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:13 am
Location: New Bedford, MA

Post by Harrison »

Yay.
How do you like this spoiler, motherfucker? -Lyion
Post Reply