RAM Upgrade for 64bit Linux, please advise

Cisco_Guy · 11 Jun 2010 at 13:54

Hi all,

Firstly, thanks for taking the time to help me out.

Okay, I bought my system from here (OCUK) and it was an overclockers bundle I think it was called. It was a Abit IP35 Pro XE, with quad core intel q6600 and 2 x 1 GB OCZ PC-8500 RAM. I bought it for gaming and it was the business.

I've had to rebuild the PC as I need it for a lab environment to study with. It's now running Ubuntu 64bit with 64bit VMware and a hypervisor program called dynamips (it emulates Cisco routers).

It's running a tad unresponsive due to everything going as apparently GNS3 (hypervisor GUI) and dynamips are quite bad for hogging RAM + I have two virtual windows servers running.

I would like to upgrade the RAM to help this and have some questions before I order. They are:

1) will extra ram help?

2) what kind/speed?

3) do they need to go in certain slots if they are bigger? I understand from searching that I should install them in pairs but I followed the instructions that came with the overclockers bundle and wonder that if I get two 2GB chips should these go in the banks that the current 1GBs are in and then Move the 1GBs to the currently empty slots?

4) Should I go for 2x2GBs or 2x1GBs? I know that's a tough one to answer but my work are paying so it's really asking will 6GB be used?

5) Any recommendation?

That's all I can think of? I'm fairly technical but not very good with hardware :-)

. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank-you very much!

Cisco Guy

Orcvader · 11 Jun 2010 at 14:33

For what you're doing, the extra RAM will definetly help. I would try get the same speed and latencys for your RAM if you want to mix it with your current ones. It's fine if you place the new sticks in the empty slots.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-149-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=817

Cisco_Guy · 11 Jun 2010 at 14:37

Brill, thanks. I was 70% sure that was the case but didn't want to go ahead just incase.

Those are out of stock unfortunately, the Kingston are available and so are the corsair the corsair are more expensive. Would they perform better than the Kingston ones or would they be just as good?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=8&subid=817

thanks!

Cisco_Guy · 11 Jun 2010 at 15:24

Actually, ignore that. Those OCZ ones appear to b the same model as the ones I have only bigger so I've just ebayed them as I need them pronto.

Thanks for your help!

Evil-I · 16 Jun 2010 at 23:05

If you are running virtual machines etc. 8Gb or more is really worthwhile. My main machine runs fedora and I often have 2 or 3 virtual machines running no problem.

E-I

Cisco_Guy · 17 Jun 2010 at 21:11

It's definitely made a difference, I'm running a 4 hypervisors for virtual routers, two vmware machines and a virtual Cisco appliance under QEMU and it is still responsive.

I do seem to have an issue though as my memory only shows up as 3.9GB in Ubuntu (64bit) and the BIOS. I did a search and some people suggested using a "memory remap" feature but I can find it on my motherboard, any ideas? It's an Abit IP35 Pro.

Currently using 2.3GB of 3.9GB and running well, I have other things I'll need to add soon... this is nice lol

minknency · 19 Jun 2010 at 04:10

64 bit Linux Ram upgrate, it will take care of 4G or more memory. Just grab latest 64 bit version and install it. I hope this will help you.