Buying 2 More Gigs Of Ram

[PhotoSnap]

Well, I've been looking into this, 2 More gigs of ram,

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=24926&vpn=BL2KIT12864AL804&manufacture=CRUCIAL%20TECHNOLOGY

I already have 2 gigs of that, so would having 2 more decrease loading time and increase performance?


Cheers,

Photosnap

[GTengineer]

I went from 2GB to 4GB recently and I did not notice any difference in regular use (Linux) but I do need a lot of memory for my work. However if you do get another 2GB I strongly recommend you buy the same brand and model as before. It may save you a lot of trouble because some times they just dont like working with each other. I bought a different brand and had to end up selling it and getting another set just like my old one.

[PhotoSnap]

I already have 2 gigs of that brand, exact same speeds and everything.

I'm really only ordering this for one I get a DirectX 10 card later, so then I'll have no worries for ram when it comes to those games.

[GTengineer]

Ah alright in that case you are cool. Also remember that a 32bit OS will only see 3.2GB unless you are using PAE extensions or otherwise using a 64bit OS in which you have no probs.

[PhotoSnap]

Though it will only show 3.2GB, I won't be using full 4GB? I would buy a 64-bit OS, but I heard it has so many problems.

Will Vista 32-Bit read it? Since I have dual os's installed.

[GTengineer]

If you want a 32bit OS to read all 4GB you need to load PAE extensions from BOOT.ini if you do a search I am sure you can find how to do it.

I have read about this but have not actually done it myself because I am on 64bit Linux.

[kiltz]

if you have a dual core setup and running 32bit, your wasting your cpu. wasting may not be the right word but slowly but surely the progression towards x64 is happening and you dont want to waste more money on an obsolete product (x86 os). but on topic i have the chance to test out 4gigs of ram and have noticed less lag moving around intensive areas in fps or mmorpg games. ive also lowered my pagefile and load times have also improved.

[PhotoSnap]

Well, I phoned in for my ram, they have it. Dropping it by in like 15-30minutes.

I'll let you know how F.E.A.R renders and what not, and what I'll notice =), maybe Doom 3 Ultra Quality Renderlagless. lol

[PhotoSnap]

Gotta send my ram back today, it's not crucial, it's samsung ram.

It didn't even have the Ballistix Tracer heatsink on it, no leds. Just stock ugly looking ram.

Plus I installed 64-bit XP Pro. Not alot of things work for me.

I'm probably going back to 32-bit, Don't care if it won't read all 4 gig sticks.

Whatever.

[hooflung]

Your problem is you got XP 64bit. You should have went with Vista Ultimate 64bit. World of difference in hardware support.

[GTengineer]

I used Windows XP x64 for a while and it was OK. It recognized all my hardware but the problem was that certain programs would not run. That really annoyed me. You may try going to the manufacturer websites to find if they have 64bit drivers and installing them yourself manually.

[dudleycpa]

If you want a 32bit OS to read all 4GB you need to load PAE extensions from BOOT.ini if you do a search I am sure you can find how to do it.

I have read about this but have not actually done it myself because I am on 64bit Linux.

GTengineer - Could you please share where you saw this at? I would have sworn that getting all 4GB to work on a 32bit OS (Vista or WinXP) wasn't possible.

Hopefully you can prove me wrong. :D

[Coldblood06]

I used Windows XP x64 for a while and it was OK. It recognized all my hardware but the problem was that certain programs would not run. That really annoyed me. You may try going to the manufacturer websites to find if they have 64bit drivers and installing them yourself manually.

I know exactly what you mean, i was on windows xp 64 most of this week, but it wasn't liking some of the programs i use on a daily bases. aslo my anti spyware which i love doesn't work on it 64 bit.

For the topic starter and all, here is a website i found that shows alot of programs tested on 64 bit operating systems. go64now.com/list

And just because the program you might use wasn't tested on 64 bit os, does not mean that it will not work, for example my games, but they worked 100% I went back to 32 bit windows xp because my computer keeped locking up.

[GTengineer]

GTengineer - Could you please share where you saw this at? I would have sworn that getting all 4GB to work on a 32bit OS (Vista or WinXP) wasn't possible.

Hopefully you can prove me wrong. :D

give me a second and I'll see if I can look it up again ...

[dudleycpa]

give me a second and I'll see if I can look it up again ...

As they say in the Northeast "your the best!"

[GTengineer]

dudley here you go! BTW I have also heard that PAE will consume some CPU resources but very little.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEdrv.mspx

Operating system Maximum memory support with PAE

Windows 2000 Advanced Server
8 GB of physical RAM

Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
32 GB of physical RAM

Windows XP (all versions)
4 GB of physical RAM*

Windows Server 2003 (and SP1), Standard Edition
4 GB of physical RAM*

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
32 GB of physical RAM

Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
64 GB of physical RAM

Windows Server 2003 SP1, Enterprise Edition
64 GB of physical RAM

Windows Server 2003 SP1, Datacenter Edition
128 GB of physical RAM

Operating System Support. The PAE kernel is not enabled by default for systems that can support more than 4 GB of RAM.

To boot the system and utilize PAE memory, the /PAE switch must be added to the corresponding entry in the Boot.ini file. If a problem should arise, Safe Mode may be used, which causes the system to boot using the normal kernel (support for only 4 GB of RAM) even if the /PAE switch is part of the Boot.ini file.

The PAE mode kernel requires an Intel Architecture processor, Pentium Pro or later, more than 4 GB of RAM, and Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003.

The PAE kernel can be enabled automatically without the /PAE switch present in the boot entry if the system has DEP enabled (/NOEXECUTE switch is present) or the system processor supports hardware-enforced DEP. Presence of the /NOEXECUTE switch on a system with a processor that supports hardware-enforced DEP implies the /PAE switch. If the system processor is capable of hardware-enforced DEP and the /NOEXECUTE switch is not present in the boot entry, Windows assumes /NOEXECUTE=optin by default and enables PAE mode. For more information, see the topic "Boot Options in a Boot.ini File" in the Windows DDK.

[dudleycpa]

dudley here you go! BTW I have also heard that PAE will consume some CPU resources but very little.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEdrv.mspx

I'm a monkey's uncle! I'll have to look at this some more when I get home.

Thanks again.:beer:

[Tyranos]

I haven't had a problem with x64 xp. The wow64 emulator does a pretty decent job for me so far. If a program refuses to work, 90% of the time in my experience the developer has an x64 version.

[Coldblood06]

I haven't had a problem with x64 xp. The wow64 emulator does a pretty decent job for me so far. If a program refuses to work, 90% of the time in my experience the developer has an x64 version.

Not just programs, sometime going around through control panel and my computer....random. But it was otherwise good