A memory question

[Lofty]

OK, I have 512MB PC2100 (266 MHz) DDR SDRAM. When F@H is running with the PC idle, only 310MB is being used. So am I correct in thinking that increasing the amount of RAM I have would not increase speed but increasing the speed of the DDR RAM would? (My mobo has a 400MHz FSB). If it does, would there be much difference? How much of a difference would there be on general system performance, and is it worth it? Or do I need a complete system overhaul? Check my sig for my PC stats.

Oh and BTW, misfit has helped me find out my memory latency is pretty awful. :rolleyes: :bang head

Thanks for any help guys! Fold Fold FOLD! :santa:

[Adak]

OK, I have 512MB PC2100 (266 MHz) DDR SDRAM. When F@H is running with the PC idle, only 310MB is being used. So am I correct in thinking that increasing the amount of RAM I have would not increase speed but increasing the speed of the DDR RAM would? (My mobo has a 400MHz FSB). If it does, would there be much difference? How much of a difference would there be on general system performance, and is it worth it? Or do I need a complete system overhaul? Check my sig for my PC stats.

Oh and BTW, misfit has helped me find out my memory latency is pretty awful. :rolleyes: :bang head

Thanks for any help guys! Fold Fold FOLD! :santa:

Increasing your memory will not increase your speed, but will enable you to run more programs, while still folding. As you noted, increasing the memory speed to 400Mhz. would give you a speed increase, I'd guesstimate 12% - 15% faster.

You can't be precise without knowing ALL the details: the size of your cache(L1 and L2), the latency of your memory, the percent that the WU can access just the cache, without fetching from memory, etc. I'm sure this varies from WU to WU, as well.

Factored into this pot of variables, is the rate that the hardware has been improving. With dual-cores popping up in the mobile cpu's this year (Centrino and Torino), the cost of a better single core system is bound to be coming down. Only the marketplace demand will determine when, and how much that will occur.

Last, but not least, is you own spending budget for something like this. If finances are tight, best to wait until they're better. If their is a little discretionary funds, and you're keen on it (seems you are), then a memory upgrade would be good. Got a bit more? Then saving for a new system might be just right. And don't overlook the slightly used systems that can be a real bargain (just make sure YOU see it work through it's paces before buying).

Are you looking for a lap-top or a desktop?

Adak

[AlabamaCajun]

Increasing memory will reduce the swapping that windows does and lessen the impact. As Adak said, going to PC3200 will greatly benifit. It should allow you to set the memory to 333 and allow more OC room from 333 through 400. I did this with my A7V333 and PC3200 allows tighter latencies :D.