RAM - Any point?

[Phoenix87XIII]

Is there any point in upgrading from 3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM to 4GB PC2 8500 DDR2 RAM? Will there be a noticeable difference in performance on Windows Vista 32bit? I play stuff like UT3, Crysis, WoW, and CS:S. I'll give some of my system specs below

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz with Intel P965 Chipset
P5BW-LA Motherboard (HP's Basswood3G-UL8E)
Nvidia Geforce 9800 GX2
3GB PC2-5300 DDR2
850W Black Widow PSU

I actually moved all of the components out of the prebuilt HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n case into an Antec Twelve Hundred tower for better fitment but that's beside the point.

I just would like some recommendations on whether or not to upgrade the RAM for now. Thanks.

 

[colorblindjimbo]

Is there any point in upgrading from 3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM to 4GB PC2 8500 DDR2 RAM? Will there be a noticeable difference in performance on Windows Vista 32bit? I play stuff like UT3, Crysis, WoW, and CS:S. I'll give some of my system specs below

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz with Intel P965 Chipset
P5BW-LA Motherboard (HP's Basswood3G-UL8E)
Nvidia Geforce 9800 GX2
3GB PC2-5300 DDR2
850W Black Widow PSU

I actually moved all of the components out of the prebuilt HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n case into an Antec Twelve Hundred tower for better fitment but that's beside the point.

I just would like some recommendations on whether or not to upgrade the RAM for now. Thanks.

The RAM might operate a bit faster, but the amount of memory will not change because your OS is only 32 bits. You can only recognize 3gb of memory total under a 32bit OS.

I wouldn't do it, unless you upgrade to Vista Ultimate or some other 64bit OS (XP Pro 64bit)

 

[worshipme]

Is there any point in upgrading from 3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM to 4GB PC2 8500 DDR2 RAM? Will there be a noticeable difference in performance on Windows Vista 32bit? I play stuff like UT3, Crysis, WoW, and CS:S. I'll give some of my system specs below

The Q6600 runs a 266MHz FSB (1066MHz quad pumped). Your RAM will run at 266MHz (533MHz DDR). Any speed above 533MHz will be bottlenecked by the FSB, so you would not get any performance increases going from 533MHz to 1066MHz.

32 bit Vista can also only address 2.75GB-3.25GB of RAM.

 

[Teny]

i think 3gb is enough as it is.
even 2gb will suffice, i didnt notice much when i used 3gb, compared to using 2gb.

 

[Phoenix87XIII]

Thanks, I knew I couldn't go much further beyond 3GB, I was just wondering what sort of performance increase I would see if any. You all really helped me out. Thanks again.

 

[xtremezx2]

32 bit Vista can also only address 2.75GB-3.25GB of RAM.

Wow, so many people say this and are completely wrong. A 32-bit OS can address 4GB of memory, this includes but is not limited to your video card, sound card, and anything else in your computer that has memory to be address, your RAM gets what addressing is left over.

See my posts here if you want more of an explanation of it:
http://www.computerforums.org/showthread.php?t=76553

 

[worshipme]

Wow, so many people say this and are completely wrong. A 32-bit OS can address 4GB of memory, this includes but is not limited to your video card, sound card, and anything else in your computer that has memory to be address, your RAM gets what addressing is left over.

Exactly. So if he has a 512MB video card, the OS can only address 3.5GB of RAM.

 

[JogaBonito1502]

The Q6600 runs a 266MHz FSB (1333MHz quad pumped). Your RAM will run at 266MHz (533MHz DDR). Any speed above 533MHz will be bottlenecked by the FSB, so you would not get any performance increases going from 533MHz to 1066MHz.

32 bit Vista can also only address 2.75GB-3.25GB of RAM.

Q6600 runs on a 333MHz FSB. You will use 667MHz or RAM unless OC'ed or UC'ed.

 

[Cabbs]

I'm pretty sure it runs on 266 FSB. If it ran on 333, it would be operating at 3 Ghz, since it has a 9x multiplier.

 

[JogaBonito1502]

Then it's not 1333MHz quad pumped lol. I just know that 266 * 4 != 1333