Getting 4GB, what about more?

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I currently use 2GB in Windows 32bit Vista Ultimate. Next week in my new PC build I am upgrading the 64bit Vista Ultimate and 4GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM 2 2GB Sticks.

Was wondering whether to use all 4 slots and make it 8GB but is is worthwhie or just a waste. I remember reading somewhere that having too much can have a negative effect?

It's not that I am trying to waste money just trying to make sure it will be smooth on 64bit OS throughout this year and 2008?

Also I currently use a 4GB USB Pen for readyboost don't know if that makes a difference or if it is even needed once I move on to 4GB memory?
 
it completly depends on what you are doing with it. if you are an office man then there is no need for more than 4. even for games there is no real need for more than 4 at the moment. However if you use some professional programmes like maya, 3dsmax, realfow etc then then more memory you can squeeze in the better. Im using Max and realflow quite a bit at the moment so plan on putting in 4gb and then if i feel the need i can add another 4 later.
 
if you've already got 2gig why not buy a 4gig dual channel kit and have 6gig?

or would that remove the dual channel ability?
 
wuyanxu said:
if you've already got 2gig why not buy a 4gig dual channel kit and have 6gig?

or would that remove the dual channel ability?

Cheers for the quick replies, I think I will just stick with the 4GB I have ordered.

To answer your question wuyanxu the reason I am not sticking the current 2GB with the new 4GB is that they are at different speeds and I have been told this would effect any overclocking on my Q6600 CPU

I use my PC for watching HD movies, DVD's, music, general internet stuff and playing games. Most the games I like are the new releases and stuff that is about to be released such has Bioshock, Crysis, World In Conflict, Stranglehold, etc.

I was just wondering whether the 8GB would have helped with load times in these such games but if I am to understand what you guys have said so far that the 4GB should run all these games smoothly.

Just out of intrest do you think it can't hurt to still use the 4GB USB pen on the readyboost feature?
 
Hello guys? He's on 32bit Vista.

He'll never see more than 3 to 3.5GB in Windows.

I'd recommend switching to 64bit BEFORE you get to 4GB.
 
BigglesPiP said:
Hello guys? He's on 32bit Vista.

He'll never see more than 3 to 3.5GB in Windows.

I'd recommend switching to 64bit BEFORE you get to 4GB.

DobieManGFW said:
I currently use 2GB in Windows 32bit Vista Ultimate. Next week in my new PC build I am upgrading the 64bit Vista Ultimate and 4GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM 2 2GB Sticks.
 
BigglesPiP said:
Hello guys? He's on 32bit Vista.

He'll never see more than 3 to 3.5GB in Windows.

I'd recommend switching to 64bit BEFORE you get to 4GB.

He said he's upgrading to Vista 64.

32bit owners should be aware tho ;)
 
I’ve got 4GB and Vista 64, I have duel monitors and can always see system resource on my second monitor. I play nearly all games at Max. settings (1650x1080 - 8800 GTS 640) and I have rarely seen system usage past 2.2GB on even the most demanding of games (Bioshock Demo didn’t get past 2GB). I’m know expert but from this observation (for gaming) I hardly think 4GB is worth it let alone 8! That said I would go for 4 GB, just not 8.
 
I’ve got 4GB and Vista 64, I have duel monitors and can always see system resource on my second monitor. I play nearly all games at Max. settings (1650x1080 - 8800 GTS 640) and I have rarely seen system usage past 2.2GB on even the most demanding of games (Bioshock Demo didn’t get past 2GB). I’m know expert but from this observation (for gaming) I hardly think 4GB is worth it let alone 8! That said I would go for 4 GB, just not 8.

Reason for that is 32bit applications cant actually address more than 2gb of ram anyway, what it does mean though is that the system has enough spare to be very multitask friendly. None of the long pauses when alt tabbing etc.
 
Reason for that is 32bit applications cant actually address more than 2gb of ram anyway, what it does mean though is that the system has enough spare to be very multitask friendly. None of the long pauses when alt tabbing etc.

Are you sure about that? I've had photoshop use over 5GB of ram before and that's 32-bit.
 
i got 8gb don't notice any difference from 4, for games and stuff, handy for multitasking and photo work though

Try setting up a RamDrive with 6Gb of that 8 and imaging your game onto it - should reduce your load time a bit, well, a lot, OK ... COMPLETELY! ;) It's my big plan when I finally let go of my beloved Opti 165!
 
should reduce your load time a bit, well, a lot, OK ... COMPLETELY! ;)

If only it worked like that. The cpu has to process the data, that is why raid 0 doesn't improve loading times. Even using i-ram load times aren't reduce by much more. Data isn't simply transferred from the hdd into the ram.
 
If only it worked like that. The cpu has to process the data, that is why raid 0 doesn't improve loading times. Even using i-ram load times aren't reduce by much more. Data isn't simply transferred from the hdd into the ram.

Not only can I confirm that my scsi setup dramatically reduces loading times on BF2 - "First!" - but I can guarantee that compared to a standard sata setup, a ramdrive load would appear almost nil!

Go on Mi9tchy - you've got the rig - give it a go and show us the numbers! No point debating when someone can do the test ;)
 
Not only can I confirm that my scsi setup dramatically reduces loading times on BF2 - "First!" - but I can guarantee that compared to a standard sata setup, a ramdrive load would appear almost nil!

Go on Mi9tchy - you've got the rig - give it a go and show us the numbers! No point debating when someone can do the test ;)

Yes decreases, not eliminates loading times.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/9312/3

"Clearly, the storage subsystem isn't the only bottleneck that constrains game level load times."

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2480&p=8
 
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