Need a bit of help choosing (I have read the articles).

[freols]

Greetings!
Although I have just read a few articles on RAM I am still confused as to what I should get.

My computer specs (relevant ones):

Mobo: Abit AX8
CPU: AMD 3200+
Memory: 1 GB of Corsair budget stuff
GPU: ATI Radeon X800XL

My mobo box says:

"Memory
-Four 184-pin DIMM sockets
-Dual Channel DDR 400 non-ECC memory
-Supports maximum memory capacity up to 4GB"

I need more ram to run a mod for BF2 with fewer FPS hits and also to help out compiling HL2 maps in hammer and multitasking.
I have a fairly flexible budget.

Can I use DDR2 RAM? If so, am I classed as an "enthusiast" or a budget user.

To be frank all the articles confuse the hell out of me and I don't really know which one of the hundreds of RAM modules I should choose.

What kind of stuff should I be looking at? :lol:

 

[choknuti]

no you just need standard DDR and not DDR2. Make sure that the setup ends in pairs.
Eg:
2 GB = 2*1GB
1 GB = 2*512MB..........

etc. Hope that helps

 

[freols]

So:
-My mobo is not compatible with DDR2
AND
-It is always worth getting paired ram not single sticks?

Is it false economy buying standard DDR ram at this point in time, should I upgrade to a mobo that can take DDR2?

 

[choknuti]

Upgrading is good but only if you need it. In your case it'll most likely involve RAM,CPU MB and that adds up cost wise. Buying DDR ram is not false economy yet as the prices are still low. Once it starts climbing up then yes.

Yes it is best for them to be paired. There is a performance advantage. Say you currently have one 1 GB stick just get another 1GB stick of the same type (manufacturer, model etc) and you will be fine. You don't have to buy them in pairs just make sure that in the end result you have pairs.

 

[freols]

So this stuff is best then:
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=92005

It is still rather pricey.

 

[choknuti]

you are right that is expensive memory. What's your current config like? You have mentioned 1GB is that in 1 stick or 2 512mb sticks?

 

[Lionhardt]

wait, are you baronmatrix in disguise?

 

[choknuti]

wait, are you baronmatrix in disguise?

Man that's mean 😀

 

[freols]

It is, alas, two sticks of 512, otherwise I would just buy a clone stick and be done with it 🙁

Is that stuff unnecessarily expensive for my needs then?

wait, are you baronmatrix in disguise?

Was I just victim of a forum fad? 😀

 

[choknuti]

It is, alas, two sticks of 512, otherwise I would just buy a clone stick and be done with it 🙁

Is that stuff unnecessarily expensive for my needs then?

a pair of 1 gB ram sticks are about 150$ here (Russia). If you upgrade to 2GB it should be enough anything more would be overkill. CHeck to see if your MB supports 4 512MB sticks. If so you will need to get 2 more 512MB sticks

And no need to go for the more expensive stuff (even though AMDs like faster ram it's not worth the extra pence in your case.)

wait, are you baronmatrix in disguise?

Was I just victim of a forum fad? 😀

Yes

p,s From the link you gave I gather that you are from the UK if so congradulations on your win over Canada. It was close at one point.