Is it worth buying more DDR2 RAM?

[J-Bronx]

I built my pc in 2008 - Geforce 8800 GT graphics card, Asus P5k-e motheboard and Intel E8400 Core 2 Duo Processor.

I have survived with only 2 gb RAM to date. I don't use the computer much at all so I don't need to overhaul the whoe thing. But playing CIV 5 on it was very slow to load maps and for the other computer players to take turns. I'd like to make it a bit quicker. I do want to be able to play Total War: Attilla.

It seems like I can upgrade to 8gb DDR2 ram for around £60 which is reasonably affordable. But will it make any difference at all? I don't want to waste £60 and am aware that DDR2 is a dead end technology.

If it is worth doing, does anyone have any recommendations what ram to buy?

thanks everyone

 

[faalin]

What Operating system do you have? Unless its a 64bit OS you wont be able to use more then 4gb. 32bit OS's limit you to a max of 4gb, so if you install 8GB of ram and have a 32bit OS you will only be able to use 4GB of it.

 

[J-Bronx]

What Operating system do you have? Unless its a 64bit OS you wont be able to use more then 4gb. 32bit OS's limit you to a max of 4gb, so if you install 8GB of ram and have a 32bit OS you will only be able to use 4GB of it.

great point faalin, I hvae only 32 bit windows so there is no point going to 8gb. Am I likely to notice any difference with 4gb over 2gb? Its less of a financial risk if I am only buying half as much.

it is wogreat point faalin, I hvae only 32 bit windows so there is no point going to 8gb. Am I likely to notice any difference with 4gb over 2gb? Its less of a financial risk if I am only buying half as much.

 

[synphul]

I think it'll make a noticeable improvement. I had the same cpu and ran 4gb for a long time, then got a chance to go to 8gb and I think the ram saved me having to upgrade for so long. I was running 64bit win though too (so the extra ram was usable). Keep in mind that when upgrading to 4gb win32 will often max out around 3.6-3.8gb (it won't show the full 4gb).

It would depend on your budget if it's worth just upgrading the ram or trying to do a more thorough upgrade of the system. Getting more ram and using a 64bit version of windows would help but again more costly and more work upgrading the os. Or even looking into a newer version of windows, 64bit with something like an i3.