Which would be better? (RAM)

[Sovetskeey]

I got a stick of RAM (which blew up when I installed it) for christmas and after I return it I'm not sure which would be better for me to use... 1.5 GB running at 333MHz or 1 GB running at 400 MHz?

[[=RDR=] RadoN]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

Go with 400mhz [DDR4], so as you save more cash, you can add to it. With 333mhz, if you decide later to get another stick, you'll be railroaded into getting either more 333mhz, or paying for 400mhz that runs at 333mhz because of the first stick. You'll always be as fast, as your slowest stick of RAM.

RAM is one thing I never cut corners on, I get the best, and then add more as I get more cash flowing.

[imported_GR|M|IN]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

Get the one Gig 512X2 So you can dual channel it then later if you choose to upgrade to 2 gigz do the same 512X2

[Talus]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

What I did was I had 1 GB of 333 MHz RAM and I bought another GB of 400 MHz RAM.

Running 2 GB with my RAM at 333 MHz was MUCH better than running 1 GB of 400 MHz.

I recommend buying what you can afford in 400 MHz and combining it with what you currently have at 333 MHz until you can afford a full 2 GB of 400 MHz RAM.

I bought myself another GB of 400 MHz RAM around Christmas so now I'm running the full 2 GB at 400 MHz and I did not see much of an improvement.

But going from 1 to 2 GB SURE did.

[<RS>FiveTon]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

I must be one of the lucky ones. I can run the game just fine on med settings with only a gig of RAM. Granted it is 400 and not 333, but 333 is just fine. I have 786 megs of 333 on my junker system (not saying yours is junk, mine is built from spare parts (Frankencomputer) and it runs bf2 very well, with low settings. Two gigs can't hurt though .

[Sovetskeey]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

I guess I should have pointed out a couple things for you rich people...

My motherboard is 3 years old and it's an AMD-based chipset. Which means that it doesn't support dual channel and it doesn't support DDR2. I also never said I was buying more RAM. I got the 1GB stick for christmas. Also, you can't buy PC2700 RAM in the local computer shops up here anymore.

I went to Memory Express and the guy there told me that A) my motherboard doesn't support DDR2 (which is why it blew up) and B) that for BF2 1.5GB would be more helpful than a slightly faster clock speed.

Thanks for the advice anyways guys. I installed the 1GB stick and left the old one in too. BF2 runs awesome and loads waaaayyyy faster now.


BTW, Radon, there's no such thing as DDR4 :) 400MHz memory is referred to as PC3200, not DDR4.

[whofriggincares]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

There's no way you installed DDR2 memory in your DDR mobo. The slots don't even come close to matching.

[Sovetskeey]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

No, the slots are the same. DDR2 just has more pins. The stick is still the same length and the spacer on it for lining it up right is in the same spot. It didn't go in very well though. I think the DDR2 sticks are a couple milimeters longer than regular ones.

Either way, I got it in and when I got back after getting a drink, my room stunk like burning silicon.

[sackynut]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

i have 1gig (2x512), and I have another 512 stick of the same exact ram that Im going to put in. My first two are in dual channel, if I put the third stick in, do the first two stay in dual channel? Or do they all go to single channel?

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

i have 1gig (2x512), and I have another 512 stick of the same exact ram that Im going to put in. My first two are in dual channel, if I put the third stick in, do the first two stay in dual channel? Or do they all go to single channel?

They all go to single channel.

[sackynut]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

They all go to single channel.

what if I get a fourth stick of the same ram, and have all four in. Then do they go back into dual channel?

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

what if I get a fourth stick of the same ram, and have all four in. Then do they go back into dual channel?

Yes they do.

[whofriggincares]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

They do, but then you drop down to 2T command rate and that kills performance. Also, if you have an older chip, the memory controller can't run all 4 sticks at DDR400 speeds, they drop down to DDR333. So you'v gone from 1T to 2T and from DDR400 to DDR333. Whatever increase you would have seen going to 2GB is wiped away. There's a reason everyone goes 2X1GB.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Which would be better? (RAM)

They do, but then you drop down to 2T command rate and that kills performance. Also, if you have an older chip, the memory controller can't run all 4 sticks at DDR400 speeds, they drop down to DDR333. So you'v gone from 1T to 2T and from DDR400 to DDR333. Whatever increase you would have seen going to 2GB is wiped away. There's a reason everyone goes 2X1GB.

Not true. There is still a very significant performance increase with 2GB, no matter the configuration.