Gaming - what ram

philbf2 · 7 Dec 2006 at 10:11

I need more ram, especially for gaming. Whats the minimum 2 gig pack I can get and still get a good performance.

(I'm upgrading an off the shelf system - so I have to check voltages or whatever (noob!) but I'm also goign to build a proper system next year and this is to tide me over until then. So I don't need anythign crazy good.

4200, 6400??? The speeds are confusing. Ive read the FAQ's and I stil don;t get it :confused:

<<<< good santa hat.

Processor Intel Pentium D 3000 MHz
MultiCore 2 Processor Cores
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Graphics Driver NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Ram 1024 MB
Motherboard ASUSTek (LITHIUM???)
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP

philbf2 · 8 Dec 2006 at 00:15

My motherboard is a Asus P5LP-LE and only supports up to 4 gigs of 5300 Ram MAX

Is it better to run....

1. 2 x 1 Gb sticks of 4200 Crucial timed at 4-4-4-12 £152.74
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-082-CR

or

2. 2x 1Gb sticks of 5300 Corsair timed at 5-5-5-15 £164.49
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-097-CS

Are they both the same kind of thing, or is there a perfomance difference here, esp in terms of gaming.

thanks again

squiffy · 8 Dec 2006 at 00:18

Can you take a picture of existing RAM? Sticker side, obviously. Since you don't give motherboard make/model you need existing RAM specs.

Ste99 · 8 Dec 2006 at 00:35

there is a thing on the crucial website that will scan your system and tell you the compatable ram

philbf2 · 8 Dec 2006 at 00:39

squiffy said:
Can you take a picture of existing RAM? Sticker side, obviously. Since you don't give motherboard make/model you need existing RAM specs.

Its in post 2....
Asus P5LP-LE... I looke dit up on the compaq/hp website and it told me what the motherboard could accept.

" * Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
* Non-ECC memory only
* Supports PC2 3200 (400 MHz) and PC2 4200 (533 MHz) and PC2 5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 DIMMs
* Supports 1.8v DDR2 SDRAM
* Maximum HP/Compaq approved memory is 4 GB*
"

Importantly are either of these ram options Ive pointed out decent for gaming?

1. 2 x 1 Gb sticks of 4200 Crucial timed at 4-4-4-12 £152.74
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-082-CR

or

2. 2x 1Gb sticks of 5300 Corsair timed at 5-5-5-15 £164.49
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-097-CS

squiffy · 8 Dec 2006 at 00:45

No point buying faster RAM if the stuff is PC3200. Take a snapshot of existing RAM modules.

That's why I said it.

philbf2 · 8 Dec 2006 at 00:48

squiffy said:
No point buying faster RAM if the stuff is PC3200. Take a snapshot of existing RAM modules.

That's why I said it.

Oh, I don;t understand. I want to replace the ram completely. Not run 4 sticks. Just 2?

Exisiting ram is 2 sticks of 512 pc2 4200 thats all I can see....

The cruicial website recommends:

1GB
DDR PC3200
CT542876

why not DDR2? The motherboard and hewlett packard say ddr2, and it has ddr2 ram in it???

Pilgrim57 · 8 Dec 2006 at 15:14

Your mobo? P5LP-LE (Limestone)

Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
Non-ECC memory only
Supports PC2 3200 (400 MHz) and PC2 4200 (533 MHz) and PC2 5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 DIMMs
Supports 1.8v DDR2 SDRAM
Maximum HP/Compaq approved memory is 4 GB* will ony get 3.2GB due to limitation of WinXP with 4 x 1GB

P5LP-LE (Lithium)

Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
Supports PC2 4200 (533 MHz) and PC2 5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 DIMMs
Supports 1.8v DDR2 SDRAM
Maximum HP/Compaq approved memory is 4 GB*

The fastest ram will give you best performance i.e. DDR2 5300 - 667MHz
Depends on yr budget
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=8&subid=144