I would like to upgrade my RAM

pc_fodder · 1 May 2020 at 20:08

I have a decent PC - little bit old now (4-5 years) but still good. Its just lacking RAM for running multiple VMs. Here is my setup:

"Titan Envy M DC" Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.4GHz Overclocked Nvidia GeForce Gaming PC
MSI GeForce GTX 760 OC Gaming Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) HDD
Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TE250BW)
Kingston HyperX 8GB (2x4GB) PC3-19200C11 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black/Red (HX24C11BRK2/8-OC)
Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-Bit DVD - OEM (WN7-00614)

There is so much RAM to choose from I am just lost. I would like to get ~32 GB. I would like it to be fast - I probably want to spend not much more then £100, less is better!

Any advice on what to get?

EsaT · 1 May 2020 at 22:09

That quad core is also lacking cores for any kind heavier use of VMs...
So not sure how much more memory would help.
Certainly no sense to spend for more than 2x8GB of dead end memory with no reuse chances.

pc_fodder · 1 May 2020 at 22:21

@EsaT Really, the i7 4-core is not beefy enough? - ouch, I thought it was a pretty good CPU! (bit old though)

I did not really understand your comment about the memory. What is dead end memory with no reuse chances?

EsaT · 1 May 2020 at 22:35

Intel stagnation era is over and quad core very low end by todays standards:
Starting level is 6 core/12 thread, below which anything is very low end cheapo.
Normal level is 8 core/16 thread.
And high end starts from 12c/24t with desktop top being 16c/32t.
(HEDT/workstation Threadripper goes all the way to 64c/128t)

That old Intel uses DDR3 and we're now around year+half away from DDR4 starting to get succeeded by DDR5.

pc_fodder · 1 May 2020 at 23:48

@EsaT So, are you suggesting that I go for a whole new motherboard and CPU? (or maybe just CPU)?

But back to RAM, I assume all I really want is any old DDR3 RAM?

Thanks : )

EsaT · 2 May 2020 at 07:53

2x4GB kit has enough of special/scarcity product price for memory with zero reuse value.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/pc-components/memory/ddr3/ddr3-2400-mhz
Really would consider anything over £50 as "lipstick on zombie".

DoneADougalOnSofa · 2 May 2020 at 08:06

You can go for more in terms of quantity, however faster ram won't really help. Sweet spot for Haswell was 2133MHz, anything else is technically an overclock, and will introduce more latency. Benchmarks show little gain from anything over 1600MHz.

So if you NEED 32GB, go for it. Just don't worry too much about the speed.

pc_fodder · 2 May 2020 at 12:46

Ah, now I get why my link failed! - ok fair enough

sorry - it was just for an example.

So what about this: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/team...annel-kit-tpkd316g1600hc11dc01-my-034-tg.html

Its a little over the £50, but it gets me to 24GB (8+8+4+4) - but the speed is not the same as I have. Will it matter to mix 1600MHz and 2400MHz RAM?

Marsman · 2 May 2020 at 13:42

You won't get 32GB of DDR3 for £100, not new anyway. 32GB is close to £200. 1600Mhz is still available, but I can't see much in the way of 2400Mhz. 2400Mhz of 32GB DDR3, would surely cost more than £200. Best option would be adding 16GB for a total of 24GB; or for 32GB, then you'd have to look at getting used to keep to around £100 spend.

If you put in 1600Mhz RAM in with faster speed RAM, then the fastest RAM will run at what the slowest speed is; so 1600Mhz. I don't know a great deal about overclocking, but my guess would be that it wouldn't be possible with using RAM of different speeds, meaning you'd be on the slower 1600Mhz.

Depending on what your doing, speed may not matter that much. For gaming, maybe it would; for running VMs, probably not.

pc_fodder · 2 May 2020 at 14:03

ok thanks very much! - I started another thread based on what I was learning here. It seems RAM is quite a large cost and it I am going to spend any serious amount of money it would be more efficient to upgrade the motherboard and CPU too! If not then I would for the 2x8GB RAM with the slower speed. As you say, for VMs its probably all I really need

FYI: here is my new full-upgrade thread: https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/upgrade-my-ageing-pc.18885673/