Is RAM the weakest link in my PC?

Liquoid · 23 Jan 2011 at 19:07

I have recently purchased a desktop from OcUK, here are the specs:

CPU: i5 760
Motherboard: Gigabyte P55 DDR 3
RAM: Corsair 4GB (2x2) PC3-12800C9 1600 MHz
Video: Sapphire HD 6850
PSU: Corsair CX 600W

Shouldn't this be able to run games like Starcraft II, Fallout New Vegas (with 4GB mod) and Crysis on highest settings? For example with SC2, I don't get playable FPS even if I set it to Ultra and switch Ambient Occlusion off.

So the question is, what's bottlenecking my performance?

SouthEastBlue · 23 Jan 2011 at 19:09

4GB is more than enough for any gaming, and the other parts of your PC look spot on so not sure why you can't max out Starcraft 2 as I wasn't aware it was particularly taxing on a PC.

stulid · 23 Jan 2011 at 19:09

nothing wrong with that setup, perhaps you missed a driver to install.

RJC · 23 Jan 2011 at 19:11

Have run any benchmarks and compared with similar systems.

stulid · 23 Jan 2011 at 19:30

have you run the windows experience index? I know it gives a worthless score, but after its run, pc's seem to work better.

Garido · 15 Feb 2011 at 20:20

Run a 3dmark and post the score. You should get a good score with that rig. Anything less and it will indicate a potential issue.

Maxi011 · 15 Feb 2011 at 21:01

Sounds like a problem to me, go download the latest ATI catalyst control centre with drivers.

Predicament · 15 Feb 2011 at 21:58

that sounds off.

uninstall then reinstall drivers
run some benchies... post your results

skylineboy · 16 Feb 2011 at 00:41

You should own SC2 witht that set up. I was using a gtx 460 and was on max settings no problem.

As above just reinstall all latest Catalyst drivers and make sure all the updates are in place for the game.

Shayper · 16 Feb 2011 at 01:02

That setup should cane most games you throw at it!

+1 for checking driver installation

Admiral Huddy · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:34

Can you post a CPU-Z image. I'm particularly interested in seeing if your RAM is running at the correct frequency.
I would also run MEMTEST86+ too.. just to verify the RAM is functioning ok.

If this a machine you have bough from the shop, I would contact them immediately.

hybrid572 · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:55

GameBooster from IObit is a good piece of software for checking your drivers. Other than that, are you running a clean windows install? Are there any problems with your memory/CPU that memtest or similar might detect? Is your RAM/CPU clocked at the correct speed?

kristmace · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:09

+1 to other posts. Definitely something up here.

Almost the same system as me (I have i5 750 and HD5850) and I can max out Crysis at 1920x1200.

biuro74 · 16 Feb 2011 at 11:18

Just check if your graphic card turns on 3D mode in game, sometimes it keeps 2D settings due to some drivers issue (change drivers then). GPU-Z shows actual speed.