I am looking to upgrade the memory on my PC, but I am very confused about the different types out there! i have an MSI 6712 mobo, and currently have 512mb of RAM. That is 2 seperate blocks of 256mb. I have one more memory slot spare - would it be possible to put a single block of 512mb ram in there? Someone has told me that my PC would work better if the memory was in pairs, but obviously this isnt possible without removing the existing memory and putting in 2 blocks of 512mb as I really want 1GB. Would the benefit in having a pair really be worth the extra expenditure? Also, which type of memory shall I get, what is the difference between 2700 and 3200 for example, and which would my PC need? My spec is as follows;

MSI 6712 mobo
Athlon 2600+
(currently) 512mb RAM
Radeon 9500 now, but upgrading to Radeon 9800 pro

Many Thanks

Unless you overclock, get a 512MB stick of the same brand and model of ram that is currently in there.
Although, 2x512MB brand-name DIMM's @ CAS2 would allow optimal performance.

Do you know what FSB speed you run?

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID Unless you overclock, get a 512MB stick of the same brand and model of ram that is currently in there. Although, 2x512MB brand-name DIMM's @ CAS2 would allow optimal performance. Do you know what FSB speed you run?

The only info on the sticks is 333mhz, is that the FSB speed? Is it really worth the xtra money to have 2 X 512 mb rather than 2 X 256 and 1 X 512 though?

333MHz on your RAM means that it is PC2700 RAM.

if your tight on cash you can get the good 512 in the single slot and run the 2 256 in the other 2 slots to still run dual channel, but your ram will still run at its slowest rating hence 333. Don't know your timings but it will work until you can upgrade both sticks. In the long run you would be better off with just 2 sticks.

There might be an issue if your board wont run 6 banks of memory though.

So basically, my best option would be to purchase a single 512mb PC2700 stick, or else 2 X 512mb PC2700 if I can afford it?

In terms of physical benefit to running 2 X 512mb, what would the real benefits be? Say in running Doom3, what would I notice in terms of difference?

Quote: Originally Posted by Times_Champion So basically, my best option would be to purchase a single 512mb PC2700 stick, or else 2 X 512mb PC2700 if I can afford it? In terms of physical benefit to running 2 X 512mb, what would the real benefits be? Say in running Doom3, what would I notice in terms of difference?

I think you should update your vid card before updating RAM if you want to see the biggest improvement in DOOM3.

Since your already upgrading the video I'd just get the 512mb stick as long as it had good timings. 1GB ram will most likley beat out 512mb in dual channel mode anyway. You'll be able to upgrade the other 256 later on anyway.
~Yeoman

I am upgrading my card to a radeon 9800 pro Crazy_J. So if I keep my existing 2 X 256mb 2700 and add one more block of 512mb 2700, with a 2600+ athlon and the radeon 9800 pro, will my system be able to play all the new games in close to high detail at 1024 X 768? What differences would I see if I were to splash out the extra £50 and get 2 X 512 sticks?

Yes you would still be able to play those games but you will get better performance when you finally splurge for the second 512 stick.

Thanks, but how significant would the performace increase be from my existing 2 X 256 to 2 X 256 and 1 X 512? And how much more significant would it be if I had 2 X 512?

Do you want to sell your old 9500? If the memory is in the "L" configuration you can softmod it to unlock the other 4 pipelines, for a performance boost like crazy.

Check it out.

Look up 9500 softmodding on google too.

Quote: Originally Posted by Times_Champion But how significant would the performace increase be from my existing 2 X 256 to 2 X 256 and 1 X 512?

You'll see the benefits in decresed load times and in other memory intensive operations.

Quote: Originally Posted by Times_Champion And how much more significant would it be if I had 2 X 512?

Not much if you don't plan on messing with any of the settings.
The reason they are suggesting you buy a good stick of 512 is you can squeeze more performance out of it. And you just make it harder on yourself by trying to get 3 different sticks up to the same speed when you only have to deal with two.

Thanks for all your help guys - I will get 512mb for now, and then possibly another stick of 512 next year when I upgrade to a 64bit processor and new mobo. So after my upgrade, my spec will be as follows;

450W PSU
MSI 6712 mobo
Athlon 2600+
Radeon 9800 pro
1024mb PC2700 RAM
120 GB HDD

Will this setup be sufficient for playing the latest games in close to high detail on 1024 X 768? My plan is to upgrade my processor and mobo in around 8 months, and then keep that setup until early 2006, when Ill probably get a new PC, what doyou think?

BTW, I have tried the 9500 softmod, but it wouldnt work unfortunately.

if you plan on using this ram in an A64 system later, you might want to get some faster ram now, like 3200 or 3500, itl still run at 333 in your current system, but will save you from this same situation when you do a 64bit upgrade

Quote: Originally Posted by Demon Made if you plan on using this ram in an A64 system later, you might want to get some faster ram now, like 3200 or 3500, itl still run at 333 in your current system, but will save you from this same situation when you do a 64bit upgrade

Would I have to do any tweaking or anything to get this to work, or would 3200 RAM just automatically run at 333 after installation for now?

yes if you run faster stick of ram with a slower one. it will run only as fast as the slowest rated stick can run at.

Also make sure that the largest DIMM (The 512MB) is in slot one, because the second channel (2 DIMM's farthest from the CPU) most total that of what is on the first channel to run Dual Channel.

Personally...I have had 1GB of ram in the past and find that I would rather stick with 2x256MB.
It just feels quicker running two single sided 256MB BH-5 sticks @ DDR480/CAS 2-2-2.

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID Also make sure that the largest DIMM (The 512MB) is in slot one, because the second channel (2 DIMM's farthest from the CPU) most total that of what is on the first channel to run Dual Channel. Personally...I have had 1GB of ram in the past and find that I would rather stick with 2x256MB. It just feels quicker running two single sided 256MB BH-5 sticks @ DDR480/CAS 2-2-2.

So it may be better sticking with 2 X 256mb rather than upgrading to 2 X 256 and 1 X 512?