4 GB of ram vs 2 GB of ram makes a huge difference - Up to 18 % performance difference

[pcslookout]

There is so much more room for multitasking and ram hogging games to take as much as they need. Everything feels faster, loads faster, and instead of worrying about how much ram your using you don't have to anymore with 4 GB. Though I plan on upgrading again soon.

link (In some games, like Age of Empire frame rates go below the dreaded 30 fps with only 2 GB of ram vs 4 GB of ram. You also get a more constant frame rate with 4 GB of ram)

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: pcslookout
There is so much more room for multitasking and ram hogging games to take as much as they need. Everything feels faster, loads faster, and instead of worrying about how much ram your using you don't have to anymore with 4 GB. Though I plan on upgrading again soon.

link (In some games, like Age of Empire frame rates go below the dreaded 30 fps with only 2 GB of ram vs 4 GB of ram. You also get a more constant frame rate with 4 GB of ram)

 

[coolpurplefan]

Vista, yeah, whatever...

 

[TheDrD]

Maybe I should buy another 2Gb of ram for my vista system...

 

[StrangerGuy]

18% is not a huge difference.

 

[AmberClad]

Am I the only person around here that still uses XP ? I remember a HardOCP or THG article a few weeks ago that showed that game framerates in Vista were abysmal compared to XP. Eyecandy and AeroGlass be damned, I want those framerates .

 

[Kirby64]

18% is not a huge difference. You're paying 100% (or more) more money for 4GB of RAM, yet you only gain a 18% advantage? That's not a HUGE difference.

 

[Synomenon]

Fry's had a sale on 2GB DDR2 667 Patriot RAM yesterday for $79.99 a stick. Good deal if you ask me.

Edit:
Actually, it's still on sale:
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/5223667

Just picked up four sticks.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Am I the only person around here that still uses XP ? I remember a HardOCP or THG article a few weeks ago that showed that game framerates in Vista were abysmal compared to XP. Security and exploit resistance be damned, I want those framerates .

Fixed :evil: Vista is awesome.

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
Fry's had a sale on 2GB DDR2 667 Patriot RAM yesterday for $79.99 a stick. Good deal if you ask me.

Edit:
Actually, it's still on sale:
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/5223667

Just picked up four sticks.

What's Patriot's reputation like? Survey says...? I wouldn't mind 4GB or even more, for what I'm doing, but I want something that'll be rock-solid.

 

[Synomenon]

I've seen some threads here on Patriot RAM and haven't read anything bad about them.

 

[Ichigo]

I've never seen such a significant rise in FPS going from 2GB to 4GB, so it *is* a huge increase. Taking price into consideration, you may or may not want to buy 4GB, but that doesn't change the facts about the performance. I'm pretty sure buying an E6600 over an E4300 doesn't get you equal price/performance increases either.

 

[Bovinicus]

Interesting. I'd like to see a similar comparison done on an XP machine. I don't plan on going Vista for a long time. In fact, I still run Windows 2000 on the box I'm on right now.

 

[bigsnyder]

I think the age of the article needs to be considered as well. A new comparison with the latest
drivers would be really helpful.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: bigsnyder
I think the age of the article needs to be considered as well. A new comparison with the latest
drivers would be really helpful.

I think so as well! We should ask anandtech to do a review of 2 GB vs 4 GB of ram!

 

[Roguestar]

Or, if you have 2GB you could look at task manager and see when your RAM is being used 100% and page file being used and then make the logical assumption that you could do with more memory. It's not rocket science.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Or, if you have 2GB you could look at task manager and see when your RAM is being used 100% and page file being used and then make the logical assumption that you could do with more memory. It's not rocket science.

Actually windows vista will use more ram if its given more ram. Therefore snappier performance.

 

[Roguestar]

That's true, but anyone using XP (ie: most people) will be able to see it.

 

[Ruptga]

Dang, I'm still on a laptop with 1GB and GMA 950 (and am going to be for some time), don't tell me 4GB is already becoming mainstream

 

[bob4432]

move up from a x1900 to a x1950xt 256BM card and you will be good to go

 

[Serradifalco]

In an C2D machine is it better to have 2x2gb sticks or 4x1gb sticks?

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: pcslookout

Originally posted by: bigsnyder
I think the age of the article needs to be considered as well. A new comparison with the latest
drivers would be really helpful.

I think so as well! We should ask anandtech to do a review of 2 GB vs 4 GB of ram!

I would so love to see that.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Serradifalco
In an C2D machine is it better to have 2x2gb sticks or 4x1gb sticks?

2x2GB so you'll have space for future upgrade.

 

[dealmaster00]

Originally posted by: Kirby64
18% is not a huge difference. You're paying 100% (or more) more money for 4GB of RAM, yet you only gain a 18% advantage? That's not a HUGE difference.

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. 100% of what? The computer cost? Something is telling me that 4GB of ram != the cost of the computer. In fact, for what you paid, 18% is a huge difference!

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Kirby64
18% is not a huge difference. You're paying 100% (or more) more money for 4GB of RAM, yet you only gain a 18% advantage? That's not a HUGE difference.

18% is a HUGE performance difference. It maybe 100% more of the RAM cost, but a much smaller percentage of the total system cost.

 

[d3n]

I am not sure but maybe the reason might be the way windows by default grabs half the available ram for the OS and leaves half for the applications. This may be just for 2003 server but perhaps Vista uses RAM in the same way. So with 4GB you would have half for windows and 2GB for your apps where before it would be 1 and 1.