RAM and Games...

Resonance456 · 09-12-2006, 02:42 AM

Hey all.

I am going to increase the RAM on my system in January time to go along with the new gfx card I a getting for xmas. ATM I have 1GB Samsung PC3200 RAM (2 x 512MB) and I am looking to buy another 1GB of 3200 RAM - totaling 1.5GB.
I know I won't see much (if any) graphical improvement in gaming but I was just wandering how much improvement (if any) I will see in frame rates and the ability to smoothly run the game??

Btw - another question just sprung to mind... it doesn't matter if I have a Samsung RAM module and a Corsair one for example does it? As long as they are both PC3200, or work with my comp, different brands don't matter right?

Willz · 09-12-2006, 12:43 PM

If the other stick is different, it will still work ok, just it is reccomended to have 2 of the same stick of ram, i dunno if dual channel will be available though.

The ram wont increase framerates in games, thats all down to your graphics card, it depends what games your going to be playing, most games coming out now will benefit with 2gb of ram like battlefield 2, 2142, oblivion, f.e.a.r etc..., so 2gb will help in those games.

Matt555 · 09-12-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resonance456

ATM I have 1GB Samsung PC3200 RAM (2 x 512MB) and I am looking to buy another 1GB of 3200 RAM - totaling 1.5GB.

You have 1GB at the minute (in 2 x 512MB modules) and you want to buy another 1GB?

1GB + 1GB = 2GB

surely?

I'd suggest looking for some similar RAM in terms of timings, voltages etc, it should help your chances of the 2 different types working well together. Try and get the same Samsung RAM if you can. If you motherboard has 4 DIMM slots then getting another 2 x 512MB kit will allow dual channel as dual channel only works with certain configurations.

Willz · 09-12-2006, 12:54 PM

maybe he only has 2 slots, so has to take 1 512mb out which = 1.5gb.

I never noticed that part :p, i dont think dual channel will work with 1x 512mb and 1x 1gb.

I think you should get 2 1gb sticks if you only have 2 slots.

Resonance456 · 09-12-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

The ram wont increase framerates in games, thats all down to your graphics card, it depends what games your going to be playing, most games coming out now will benefit with 2gb of ram like battlefield 2, 2142, oblivion, f.e.a.r etc..., so 2gb will help in those games.

Ok, makes sense bro... i thought it was down to the gfx card, but i just wanted to make sure.

Quote:

You have 1GB at the minute (in 2 x 512MB modules) and you want to buy another 1GB?

1GB + 1GB = 2GB surely?

hehe, yeh I only have 2 slots... i might just replace both with 2 x 1GB modules lol.

Quote:

I'd suggest looking for some similar RAM in terms of timings, voltages etc, it should help your chances of the 2 different types working well together. Try and get the same Samsung RAM if you can. If you motherboard has 4 DIMM slots then getting another 2 x 512MB kit will allow dual channel as dual channel only works with certain configurations.

Yeh, again, that makes sense - i pretty much thought so but again i wanted to double check in case i was wrong...

I'lkl probably just replace both my 512's with 2 1GB's.

Quote:

I never noticed that part :p, i dont think dual channel will work with 1x 512mb and 1x 1gb.

I think you should get 2 1gb sticks if you only have 2 slots.

Righteo then. looks like i am defo gonna be gettin 2 x 1GB to replace my 512's lol.

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated

Big B · 09-12-2006, 02:19 PM

Depending on what settings you play at, additional RAM won't up your frames per second, but it will make for smoother gameplay.

Resonance456 · 09-12-2006, 02:41 PM

oh right ok - so in game frame rates depend on the gfx card, but how well the game runs depends on your RAM? I hope i am right in saying that?

Big B · 09-12-2006, 04:00 PM

Yeah. You're less likely to have pauses in the middle of the action while your system catches up.

zeus · 09-12-2006, 04:16 PM

It will make the game more stable too.

Resonance456 · 09-12-2006, 04:39 PM

ahh right then, well thats ok, makes sense to me lol. well what i'll do is try to get a pair of OCZ or Corsair 2 x 1GB RAM modules - that should be cool right?

Exfoliate · 11-12-2006, 08:28 PM

In my experince ram can help smooth out both hitches and pauses and the frame rate. Half Life 2 used to have a lot of trouble running on high, to the point where is just wasn't playable. Adding 512 really helped bring it up to a playable standard (and Overclocking my cpu more so). Extra ram is also useful if the game requires a ton of video memory, often for games with very high quality textures, as sometimes your video card doesn't have enough vram so it can use some system memory to keep things cranking.

Resonance456 · 17-12-2006, 05:46 PM

Oh sweet... well, i am looking about for RAM atm so, i'll let you guys know when i found something to suit my needs n u can let me know whether or not its new good. thnx for the help btw all

09-12-2006, 02:42 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
Resonance456 Big Geek Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 236 Times Helpful: 2 My Mood: Twisted Status: Offline My Computer	RAM and Games... Hey all. I am going to increase the RAM on my system in January time to go along with the new gfx card I a getting for xmas. ATM I have 1GB Samsung PC3200 RAM (2 x 512MB) and I am looking to buy another 1GB of 3200 RAM - totaling 1.5GB. I know I won't see much (if any) graphical improvement in gaming but I was just wandering how much improvement (if any) I will see in frame rates and the ability to smoothly run the game?? Btw - another question just sprung to mind... it doesn't matter if I have a Samsung RAM module and a Corsair one for example does it? As long as they are both PC3200, or work with my comp, different brands don't matter right?

09-12-2006, 12:43 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Willz MiCrO$oFt $uK$ :D Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,234 Times Helpful: 150 My Mood: Lurking Status: Offline My Computer	If the other stick is different, it will still work ok, just it is reccomended to have 2 of the same stick of ram, i dunno if dual channel will be available though. The ram wont increase framerates in games, thats all down to your graphics card, it depends what games your going to be playing, most games coming out now will benefit with 2gb of ram like battlefield 2, 2142, oblivion, f.e.a.r etc..., so 2gb will help in those games. __________________

09-12-2006, 12:54 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Willz MiCrO$oFt $uK$ :D Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,234 Times Helpful: 150 My Mood: Lurking Status: Offline My Computer	maybe he only has 2 slots, so has to take 1 512mb out which = 1.5gb. I never noticed that part :p, i dont think dual channel will work with 1x 512mb and 1x 1gb. I think you should get 2 1gb sticks if you only have 2 slots. __________________

09-12-2006, 02:19 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,640 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Depending on what settings you play at, additional RAM won't up your frames per second, but it will make for smoother gameplay. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

09-12-2006, 04:00 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,640 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Yeah. You're less likely to have pauses in the middle of the action while your system catches up. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

09-12-2006, 02:41 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
Resonance456 Big Geek Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 236 Times Helpful: 2 My Mood: Twisted Status: Offline My Computer	oh right ok - so in game frame rates depend on the gfx card, but how well the game runs depends on your RAM? I hope i am right in saying that?

09-12-2006, 04:16 PM	#9 (permalink) Top
zeus out of date Join Date: May 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 1,654 Times Helpful: 105 My Mood: Twisted Status: Offline My Computer	It will make the game more stable too.

09-12-2006, 04:39 PM	#10 (permalink) Top
Resonance456 Big Geek Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 236 Times Helpful: 2 My Mood: Twisted Status: Offline My Computer	ahh right then, well thats ok, makes sense to me lol. well what i'll do is try to get a pair of OCZ or Corsair 2 x 1GB RAM modules - that should be cool right?

11-12-2006, 08:28 PM	#11 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	In my experince ram can help smooth out both hitches and pauses and the frame rate. Half Life 2 used to have a lot of trouble running on high, to the point where is just wasn't playable. Adding 512 really helped bring it up to a playable standard (and Overclocking my cpu more so). Extra ram is also useful if the game requires a ton of video memory, often for games with very high quality textures, as sometimes your video card doesn't have enough vram so it can use some system memory to keep things cranking. __________________

17-12-2006, 05:46 PM	#12 (permalink) Top
Resonance456 Big Geek Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 236 Times Helpful: 2 My Mood: Twisted Status: Offline My Computer	Oh sweet... well, i am looking about for RAM atm so, i'll let you guys know when i found something to suit my needs n u can let me know whether or not its new good. thnx for the help btw all

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What games will my PC run?	Denic	PC Gaming	17	12-10-2006 08:57 PM
PS2 Games	max12590	Buy / Sell / Trade	2	03-02-2006 12:54 AM
saved games location for following games???	Willz	PC Gaming	4	25-07-2005 12:30 AM
GBA SP with some games	WWR	Buy / Sell / Trade	2	18-04-2005 06:56 PM
Games!	Sniper	News and Article Comments	0	28-08-2002 11:19 PM