Building new computer

[MikeyLSU]

Will be used mainly for gaming. I do use it as a media center occassionally for hosting movies to my TV.

But generally web browsing/gaming, just some multitasking as I don't like to close out stuff when playing a game.

But my question would be is there any reason to go for 16GB of RAM? I was planning on 8 but with RAM so cheap I could go 16.

Other items I am getting,
Samsung 840 SSD
MSI Z77 mobo
i5 3570k
keeping my current HD 5850 video card.

 

[Burner27]

Unless you are doing video editing, hosting many VMs, or AutoCAD work, there is no need to get more than 8GB. BUT..............since ram is so cheap and if it won't impact your budget too much - go for 16GB!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233144 $47

vs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233299 $92

 

[mikeford]

Ram is cheap to buy, but it runs all the time, uses electricity in non trivial amounts in a 24/7 application like media center (at least for me mine was on for years that way since it was also the server for our home network).

OTOH if you run 16 GB it might be worthwhile to set up a 8 GB ram drive to minimize writes to a SSD and/or allow hard drives to spin down.

 

[VirtualLarry]

uses electricity in non trivial amounts in a 24/7 application like media center

Really now? How much power do you think that 16GB (4x4GB DIMMs) takes?

 

[Burner27]

If it is a 1.5v stick and you get 4 of them you would be using 6volts total. I would probably buy an external generator because of that! LOL

 

[VirtualLarry]

If it is a 1.5v stick and you get 4 of them you would be using 6volts total. I would probably buy an external generator because of that! LOL

LOL. Go back to EE school. Power is in Watts, which is equal to Volts times Amps for DC circuits. We would have to know the current draw for a DIMM to calculate.

Or just plug in a KAW meter, and measure idle and load with 4GB, and again with 16GB.

 

[Burner27]

LOL. Go back to EE school. Power is in Watts, which is equal to Volts times Amps for DC circuits. We would have to know the current draw for a DIMM to calculate.

Or just plug in a KAW meter, and measure idle and load with 4GB, and again with 16GB.

I was kidding VL. Hence my comment about a generator.

 

[Kenmitch]

Really now? How much power do you think that 16GB (4x4GB DIMMs) takes?

Twice as much as 2x4GB Dimms

 

[InsaneAdam]

Ram is cheap to buy, but it runs all the time, uses electricity in non trivial amounts in a 24/7 application like media center (at least for me mine was on for years that way since it was also the server for our home network).

OTOH if you run 16 GB it might be worthwhile to set up a 8 GB ram drive to minimize writes to a SSD and/or allow hard drives to spin down.

What is this about Ram drive. I recently bought all new computer components that are due to arrive in a couple days. One of which is 32 gb quad channel kit of g.skill ram @ 1600 to go into my new evga x79 sli motherboard. As 32 gb of ram is complete over kill for anything I do I'm interested in maybe making one or two sticks into a ram drive. But idk anything about or how to do it or how it could even improve my performance.


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