New RAM

[stevo1210]

I'm wondering if I should upgrade the RAM for the PC in my signature box below...

As you can see it currently has 1x Corsair 1GB 667MHz and 1x Kingston 1GB 667MHz chips in there [dual channel configuration], making a total of 2GB. Now for me I feel that 2GB of RAM is more than enough for what I need because I just do simple web browsing, play music, watch a DVD, youtube, ebay and Badcaps forums is all I do with it.

My friend says that I should upgrade to 2x 800MHz DDRII chips and throw these 667MHz chips out because it's limiting my CPU performance?

So what do you guys think? is it worth spending the $60 or so for 2x new 1GB 800MHz chips?


Thanks.

[dood]

Re: New RAM

Technically, yes, you are losing a little bit of memory bandwidth. But do you really need it? I would also suggest that, if you decide to do this, buy 1066mhz memory, as it's the highest speed your motherboard supports. That way, if you ever upgrade to a 1066mhz fsb processor, you've already got the RAM to match.

Honestly, I don't think the difference of 667 vs 800 is enough to worry about.

[goodpsusearch]

Re: New RAM

Have you tried overclocking your ram?

[Scenic]

Re: New RAM

- a bit late to upgrade DDR2 (prices skyrocketed already)
- with that Pentium D (P4 x2) it probably doesn't matter anyways..

[stevo1210]

Re: New RAM

I don't like the idea of overclocking... It's one thing I'm against in terms of computing.

[Scenic]

Re: New RAM

because your Pentium4 x2 doesnt OC too well.. or at all?
no seriously.. its ok. OC doesn't really make sense on a surf-pc anyways..

for gaming however..

my mighty little C2D E4300 i used to have in my main comp
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=600052

and the C2Q Q6600 i've got in there now
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=1010922

if GTA IV / EFLC wouldnt exist, i'd probably still be using my S478 P4 Northwood 2.8 HT

[mattch]

Re: New RAM

you have to ask your self:

Can i justify the expense for a performance enhancement that i will not notice on a day to day computing.

kinda like a car that you dont race; should you get those racing sparks and wires, or will the regulars suffice?


is your friend in sales? if not maybe they will be good at it.

[Scenic]

Re: New RAM

is your friend in sales? if not maybe they will be good at it.

*?*

[dood]

Re: New RAM

Curious... is this also the friend who told you you needed alloys for your car?

[seanc]

Re: New RAM

I wouldn't bother, there's such a small margin in speed.

You'd be better off whacking a cheap C2D in there.

[goodpsusearch]

Re: New RAM

So, pentium D and C2D are so different?

[dood]

Re: New RAM

So, pentium D and C2D are so different?

No HT on C2D procs, and about 1/2 of the TDP of Pentium D's. Among other improvements...

[Scenic]

Re: New RAM

more power per MHz and cooler running.

your mainboard has the intel P35 chipset, so it supports anything up to Core 2 Quads..

few examples
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/150443291569
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/230472882474
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/280507766480

especially the last one seems to be a pretty good deal price-wise.
i'd say even the Pentium Dual-Core E2160 (first link) would be at least on par with your current Pentium D 920 performance wise. you probably wouldn't notice any difference (except the temperatures being a lot lower )

side note
Pentium DC E2160 -> 65nm
Celeron Dualcore E3200 -> 45nm
Pentium DC E5300 -> 45nm

and don't laugh at the Dualcore celeron. core-based celerons are serious performers. (because they are basically just Core 2 Duos with less cache .. same for Pentium Dualcore CPUs)

edit: Pentium D != Pentium Dual Core
can be destinguished relatively easy, as the core-based ones all have model numbers starting with "E" followed by 4 numbers (E2180 or E5200 for example) and all Netburst/P4 based Pentium D model numbers start with "D" followed by 3 numbers.

[seanc]

Re: New RAM

I upgraded to an E8400 recently, cost me about £90, nice upgrade.

[Lobo]

Re: New RAM

For what you use that PC for, It won't make much of a difference. The only reason I could see that you might need to upgrade your RAM is if you are having issues with using 2 different brands of RAM sticks.

And yeah, since Win 7 came out the price of RAM has skyrocketed. Unless you plan on playing games, or upgrading to a 64 bit OS, you should be just fine.

[washu]

Re: New RAM

P4s don't seem to care as much as Core2s about memory speed. You would never notice the difference. Put that money towards a better upgrade.

[Junk Parts]

Re: New RAM

Never put good ram in the bin! People like "Junk Parts" value this stuff greatly...LOL I wish I had kept all that real old ram that I tossed. There are people who collect old system that are crying for it these days.

[stevo1210]

Re: New RAM

Well basically speaking a week ago I had 2x Kingston 800MHz chips in there but my brother traded me these ones cause he needed the 800 for the new build.

I really can't feel any difference...

But at the moment I'm having another confusion. I'm building another secondary system which has an Intel DP965LT motherboard and a Pentium Dual Core E2160.
Since I am buying new RAM for that system, should I run the 800MHz chips in my Pentium D system or should I put the 800's into the Pentium dual core system? The Pentium dual core system will be used for more intensive applications such as DVD burning.

Thanks.

[stevo1210]

Re: New RAM

BTW, the Pentium dual core system is for my father, not me.

[washu]

Re: New RAM

Put the 800MHz RAM with the E2160. It is by far the faster chip and core 2s like having synchronous FSB and RAM. You still probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference on either chip between 667 and 800, but benchmarks will show a bigger diff % on the E2160.