Should I get more ram?

[shiro]

running vista ultimate on some budget 1gb (2x512mb) PNY Optima ddr400 from Fry's running in dual channel. Not sure if I'm even supposed to since cpu-z has different info on them like chip manufacturer and stuff (actually cpu-z doesn't even show any chip info for one of them, but the other one is Infineon), but the timings are the same 3-3-3-8.

Recently started playin wow, and usually have media center tv open at the same time, and notice that things get really sluggish (sometimes in the game, mostly on the desktop).

I've been thinking of getting some A-data Vitesta 2gb (2x1gb) ddr400 dual channel kit with 2.5-3-3-6 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211014). Would this help me greatly?

I'm prety ram illiterate so I dunno about the timings and such and how much of a difference it would make. Would the +1gb of ram plus faster timings be a huge improvement over what I'm running now?

Also, if I were to put the A-data ram in, and still keep my PNY ram in at the same time, would the entire system run at the slowest ram timing? Or would it run differently depending on which ram module is being used?

 

[mechBgon]

1) You should definitely be on at least 2GB of RAM for that stuff.

2) Don't worry about the timings very much. Keeping the system from running out of RAM is far more important than keeping the RAM timings at such-&-such settings.

3) I would start with the 2 x 1GB setup and make sure the system's stable. Make sure you set the motherboard's memory voltage to 2.7 volts for those modules. If it's stable, now add the 512's and see if it's still stable. If so, well there ya go If not, you're still out of the 1GB jail.

 

[Lemon law]

Depending on the mobo, going to 3 gigs assuming there are four memory slots on the board, may cause the memory bus to down clock from pc3200 to PC2700. But since vista can efficiently use memory for things like superfetch, even that would probably be an overall performance gain.

 

[shiro]

so it wouldn't matter really what kind of ram I get if timings don't really matter much? I could go for some other 2gb that's cheaper than the A-data I'm lookin at (around $150 after tax and shipping from newegg)?

I have 4 slots, two pairs of dual channel slots on an ECS KN1 Sli extreme lite

 

[Lemon law]

No, it does matter. Motherboards and bioses are very weird and unpredictable things. And the first rule is usually to never mix memory module types. It can be done, but mixing memory greatly increases the degree of difficulty. And if you are running DDR2---you pretty well have to run a matched pair in the respective opposite slots. And then if you run another differing matched pair in the other two slots, you have to find a bios settings that both pairs run at stable.---which may become impossible with mixed memory.

It need not be super expensive ram unless you are over clocking. But its my experience that some bios tweaking will almost always be required---and sometimes you are best off jumper resetting the bios when adding ram or the bios will remember things best forgotten.

Go to the corsair ram forum, and you will find that never mix memory is the mantra of the ram guy. As it is,
I had a devil of a time getting closely matched ram running at full bus speed in straight ddr. And never could get the ram running right at stock spd settings.

 

[fiksi]

Originally posted by: shiro
so it wouldn't matter really what kind of ram I get if timings don't really matter much? I could go for some other 2gb that's cheaper than the A-data I'm lookin at (around $150 after tax and shipping from newegg)?

I have 4 slots, two pairs of dual channel slots on an ECS KN1 Sli extreme lite

It matters... don't buy too cheap and run into problems. Also, i suggest you don't mix ram if u can. YOu cna run into compatibility issues, and even if you don't, different timings etc can make it harder for you. Especially in DC, compatibility is important.

You don't need to buy fastest ram around... BUT do buy some quality ram. YOu won't save much on ram... these few $ spent on right ram are good investment.

Overall, difference between timings in real world is actually slim...

 

[shiro]

so I haven't made much of a decision yet but I've started looking for alternatives (albeit more expensive alternatives) than the A-data Vitesta 2gb dual channel kit.

I was just wondering if I could get some input from you guys; any advice or caveats about these particular sticks of ram? These are all ddr400 184-pin 2gb dual channel kits, and I don't plan to overclock:

Brand: Crucial
Timings: unknown
Price: About $130 for me after tax + shipping + rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146575

Brand: OCZ (non Platinum)
Timings: 2-3-2-5
Price: About $138 after tax + ship + rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227084

Brand:A-data Vitesta
Timings: Sort of unknown? Reports of various numbers in reviews, though they are probably overclocking
Price: About $142 after t + s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211014

Brand: OCZ Platinum
Timings: 2-3-2-5
Price: About $153 after t + s + rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227210

BTW, what's the difference between the two OCZ types? They seem to be the same to me other than one has that mirror finish heatsink or whatever. Seems like the non-platinum series has its fair share of bad reviews as well (not just ddr but ddr2 as well).

I know it's been said that timings don't matter much, and really what I'm looking for is pretty much just good enough for what I'm doing. But, I was wondering if I should just spend the extra $10 or $20 for some good ram. Would it be worth it? If not for the timings, maybe for just reliability? As of now I'm leaning towards just the cheapest one which would be the Crucial sticks. I'm also going to try to run my current two sticks of ram (2x512mb, 3-3-3-8) along with these in dual channel, for 3gb of RAM total. If it works out then great, but if not I'll just take them out.

Hmm...I would also appreciate it if I could get a response by tomorrow since I just noticed the OCZ rebates end tomorrow! haha I just started looking again after I said to myself I can probably hold off...but the sluggishness is really annoying, and it's mostly because of Windows Media Center I believe... Even when I'm not gaming and just have the Media Center open, some things are lagging...

 

[shiro]

Ahh well turns out the OCZ Platinum is on sale again just as the rebate is ending (today), so I took the chance and ordered it.

$155.99 on sale ($10 off regular price 165.99)
After rebate and tax for me it comes out to about $143