RAM and Games...

R

Resonance456

Geek Trainee
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?
 
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.
 
Resonance456 said:
ATM I have 1GB Samsung PC3200 RAM (2 x 512MB) and I am looking to buy another 1GB of 3200 RAM - totaling 1.5GB.
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You have 1GB at the minute (in 2 x 512MB modules) and you want to buy another 1GB?

1GB + 1GB = 2GB :ohah: 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.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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

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

1GB + 1GB = 2GB surely?
Click to expand...

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

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.
Click to expand...

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.

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.
Click to expand...

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 :D
 
Depending on what settings you play at, additional RAM won't up your frames per second, but it will make for smoother gameplay.
 
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?
 
Yeah. You're less likely to have pauses in the middle of the action while your system catches up.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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 :good:
 
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