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Already have 2GB; should I buy the same sticks again for my additional 2GB?


Ankira

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I currently have 2 GB (2x1GB sticks) of 6400 DDR2 memory (TWIN2X2048-6400) running on my Asus P5B Deluxe motherboard.

 

I have just started to overclock my C2D 6420 CPU from its stock 2.13GHz and easily managed to get it up to 3.2GHz without problem (400x8).

 

I would like to push it further, but need to play more with the memory settings as it would start to push the memory to be o/c'd (over 800MHz). There is lots of advice I need to read through further on these forums before doing that; I don't want to ask about that yet until I've done some research.

 

My question is this; I am considering buying more memory (another 2 sticks of 2 GBs), as I'm looking to move from XP to Vista and think I'll need 4GB if I can (although I know I won't be able to use all that unless going 64-bit).

What would make sense; should I just get another couple of sticks of the same memory again, or would it make sense to get something higher specc'd?

I'm not sure if I'd be wasting my money if I went for something higher?

 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks.

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Thanks Specmike; that's interesting.

 

So what you're saying is that if I increased my 2GB up to 4GB using a total of 4 x 1GB sticks, chances are that I would actually slow down my system.

 

What do people tend to do; do most people just stick with 2GB and hope that <Vista + game> doesn't take them over the 2GB? Or am I out of date; do most people now run with 2 x 2GB (4GB) in their PCs?

I'm just wondering if I'm worrying unnecessarily and would do better to concentrate on other elements of my system.

 

Many thanks!

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Most people stick with 2GB. I have a dual boot system with XP and VISTA. I use XP for everything except for Direct X 10 Games and then I boot to VISTA. This isn't because of the memory issue, it is because VISTA is nowhere near ready or robust enough for me to want to migrate fully. XP is far more robust and mature an operating system.
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Thanks. I was worried that 2GB may not be enough for me and that I should look to increase that. Maybe I'm actually likely to do more harm than good and should focus on seeing if I can afford to just upgrade my current 2GB to a faster 2GB.

 

Thank you!

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Thanks. I was worried that 2GB may not be enough for me and that I should look to increase that. Maybe I'm actually likely to do more harm than good and should focus on seeing if I can afford to just upgrade my current 2GB to a faster 2GB.

 

Thank you!

Most likely, you'll be fine upgrading. And, you have a pretty mild OC so you should not be negatively affected there. However, I always take a conservative approach when recommending an upgrade from 2 modules to four.

 

If you are a gamer or using video rendering or production apps or Photoshop etc, you will benefit from 4gb. Otherwise, 2gb should be fine.

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Thanks Specmike. I should have been clearer; I am a gamer, playing games such as Oblivion, ETQW, BF2142 and NWN2.

 

Not sure if that would tend you towards advising me to get 2 x 2GB? If so, I'm guessing I should be looking at something faster than what I have?

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  • 3 weeks later...

I think I have a related problem. Same MB and RAM combination.

 

I bought 2xTWIN2X2048-6400 (2x1GB) sticks when I built this system. I recently added 2 of the same sticks and my MB memory only shows 2496MB now. I'm stumped on it. I have switched out old/new to verify that they both show 2048MB when in as a seperate pair. I have also reflashed to the 11/30/07 BIOS release. Is this the max that this will show? Thanks!

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I think I have a related problem. Same MB and RAM combination.

 

I bought 2xTWIN2X2048-6400 (2x1GB) sticks when I built this system. I recently added 2 of the same sticks and my MB memory only shows 2496MB now. I'm stumped on it. I have switched out old/new to verify that they both show 2048MB when in as a seperate pair. I have also reflashed to the 11/30/07 BIOS release. Is this the max that this will show? Thanks!

What OS are you using and what video cards do you have?
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Get the exact same memory. Also, I'm not sure exactly about your mobo but isn't there an option to set RAM to unlinked? Also I know it is unrelated but what programs did you use to stability test you CPU and the OC in general because I have already overclokced my C2D as well and I'm nowhere near its peak potential, but I ust want more programs or stability to ensure it doesn't crap out when i hit that peak.

 

But like other have mentioned XP has trouble identifying the entire 4 GB. However, from my experience that extra stick is still used and does not slow things down, but thats just me, others around here probably have more experience than me.

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