adding more DDR memory

[skankmaster]

Currently on 2x OCZ PC3200 platinum r2 sticks (1gb) and looking at my options for increasing memory, for use on an AMD X2 platform.

(i) Get another 1 Gb kit, Geil/OC value at £65 - £94

(ii) Get a Geil 2 Gb kit for £160



*rounded off prices

Can I mix & match pairs of 1Gb kits, or is this asking for trouble? Will I really notice performance drop in option (i) in games? Obviously, I am led by the cheapest option, but if instability is the end result, id rather pay extra for a stable system.

The third option is to not use software that necessitates so much memory.

Thanks

 

[steve258]

So you already have 2Gb OCZ kit?? It is more than enough I think, going 3Gb / 4Gb is unneccesary atm.

The OCZ platinum you have is high performance stuff with low latency, so if you add in the Geil value ones then all 4 sticks will have to run at much higher latencies at 2T for better compatibility so there will be noticeable performance lost.

 

[skankmaster]

whoops. Sorry. I meant to say 2 sticks of 512mb OCZ

A quick rethink later and the only thing that taxes the current system is games. I think I will live with the 1gb, and prey not many games coming out need more memory! It seems memory is pretty expensive.

 

[skankmaster]

Hi,

My choices for 2GB DDR on an AMD system are:


GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC)
or
OcUK Value 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 184pin DDR Memory Dual Channel Kit

Any comments on either memory from users?


For those of you that upgraded from 1GB to 2GB, how much of a difference does it make? 1 GB of OCZ as mentioned in the top of this thread, to be replaced by 2GB of value memory - In real world use and recent games, memory speeds are unimportant right?

 

[Sweetloaf]

For those of you that upgraded from 1GB to 2GB, how much of a difference does it make?

I've only had 2GB RAM for 1 night and have been impressed so far. A lot of it depends on the type of games you play, large open areas in RPGs are no longer clunky, my FPS haven't suddenly shot through the roof or anything but the overall smoothness of games seems to have increased very nicely.

eg. In a MMORPG I currently play, everytime I entered a populated area like a town the game would grind and stutter and drop to 1-2 FPS while the page file was accessed. Last night I was waiting for the stuttering to start but everything remained smooth. Add the nice decrease in loading times and I can strongly recommend 2GB. I'd add another 1GB of your existing RAM and keep the cost down though

For the record I've had nothing but good results from Geil RAM.