How important is RAM going to be for HL2

[Roland Deschain]

I remember reading that RAM (at least for the 9800) isn't that important for Doom 3 as long as you have 512 (ie: upgrading to 1024 is not going to give you a huge improvement).

Are there any indications to how important RAM is going to be for HL2: ie; would you get a noticable increase if you upgraded to 1024.

PS: On this line of thought, what is the easiest way to check was kind of RAM you have (type and speed).

 

[P43.2/1Gig/X800P]

i went from a 512 to 1 gig and there was a big difference in performance especially in large open areas like hl2 with all the action going on in the game. think about it get 1 gig just to be on the safe side. you dont want to regret it lol

when getting ram make sure you know what type you have then buy it like i have ddr400 pc3200 184 pin i have four slots on my mobo and i have 4x256 sticks in it

ohh and make sure if you buy more ram always buy the same if you buy two sticks you have to buy 256 and 256 you cant buy 256 and 512 you will actually lose performance that way

Chris_D EDIT: There that wasn't too difficult was it - don't triple post.

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

Editing posts is great.....

1gig of ram is always good for the pc. Things should load a lot of faster ingame and programs the same. I miss 1gig, I need to get another 512mb stick myself

 

[snak3y3z1001]

Editing posts is great.....

1gig of ram is always good for the pc. Things should load a lot of faster ingame and programs the same. I miss 1gig, I need to get another 512mb stick myself

newegg.com is have a 1 say deal. $78 for a 512mb Crucial PC3200. free shipping and comes w/a newegg pen :thumbs:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=20-146-541&DEPA=0

 

[Asus]

Considering that RAM generally helps when there is a large amount of data to be stored, whether it's a large map or a lot of models, it should help more than it does in Doom 3 with its tight hallways.

 

[GuNzABlaZiN]

The more, the merrier!

 

[Killing2Live]

So I have two sticks of 256mb 3200 ram, but I have one slot left, and if I put a stick of 512 in the last slot (to make 1 gig) would that be bad?

 

[Roland Deschain]

So how do I check what kind of RAM I have. I know I have 512, but since my friend build it for me, I don't exactly know what type to buy (ie: speed and type ).

 

[KidRock]

What is processor ram and Video card mostly used for?

Processor- processing lots of things on the screen?

Video card- making them look good?

 

[B.Calhoun]

512 MB (256MBx2) PC3200 400MHz Dual Channel DDR MEMORY

this is fine for all the new games right?

 

[Roland Deschain]

512 MB (256MBx2) PC3200 400MHz Dual Channel DDR MEMORY

this is fine for all the new games right?

How do you know you have this kind of RAM, damn my friend for not giving me the box.

 

[B.Calhoun]

How do you know you have this kind of RAM, damn my friend for not giving me the box.

Im buying a new computer and this is most likely what it will have.

 

[Roland Deschain]

But let's say you already have a comp, your friend build it for you, how do you firgure out what kind of RAM you have (he said he can't remember, and he can't come over at 12am).

 

[B.Calhoun]

i dont know. i just hope 512 MB (256MBx2) PC3200 400MHz Dual Channel DDR MEMORY is fine cause im not spending another 90 bucks to upgrade it to have 1gig.

 

[Roland Deschain]

Never mind, found a neat applicance that shows all of your hardware and the specs of them

 

[dream431ca]

Well....Basically RAM is important for every game....especially DOOM 3. But for Half-life 2 512MB should be plenty....but I would have at least 1GB just in case. :dozey:

 

[sHm0zY]

I went from 256 to 768 and when i played my games i was like woooo soo much better

 

[B.Calhoun]

well when i save up more money ill just upgrade to another stick of 256 or so.

 

[Unfocused]

I went from 256 to 768 and when i played my games i was like woooo soo much better

Well I would also like to add a 512 stick to my 256 one but since someone said here that it's a bad idea... Could you say something more? Why is it a bad idea?

And another question: can I mix speeds? I have a 333Mhz 256 stick, can I add an 400 512 stick?

And finally: I've got an Intel D845PESV mobo, can I insert my RAM in a Socket A mobo? (I'm planning switching to AMD)

 

[iamaelephant]

I don't think using different sized sticks would necessarily decrease performance, but if you have, for example, one 512mb stick and one 256mb stick, it may not be as fast as three 256mb sticks. The difference is very small and I wouldn't worry about it unless you are a benchmark hound.

 

[iamaelephant]

Yes you can mix speeds, but all of your RAM will run the same speed as your slowest stick. For example if you have a 333 stick and a 400 stick, both of them will run at 333. Shouldn't be a problem moving your RAM onto a Socket A mobo, but why switch to AMD? Intel CPUs have a distinct speed advantage. Unless you are concerned about prices of new CPUs.

 

[gegam]

this is not a flam but

where do u draw the line?

But for Half-life 2 512MB should be plenty....but I would have at least 1GB just in case. :dozey:

well if u think like this,

get a 939 cpu, overclocked to 4.6GHz
2gigs ram
750watt psu
watter cooling
and a x800xt overclocked

just in case

p.s. will this computer un hl2?

get a 939 cpu, overclocked to 4.6GHz
2gigs ram
750watt psu
watter cooling
and a x800xt overclocked

 

[Malfunction]

Well, if you have the money, get some nice Corsair XMS 512x2 Dual Channel DDR, but 512 will run HL2. Valve isn't dumb. They won't make the bestselling game ever run only on high-end systems.

 

[Dead-Inside]

Editing posts is great.....

1gig of ram is always good for the pc. Things should load a lot of faster ingame and programs the same. I miss 1gig, I need to get another 512mb stick myself

Ye... But for me that's like the price of two HL2 boxes...

 

[Lone_Bullet]

I am planning too on buying a new rig...So I have some questions too :
Is there a huge difference between Single and Dual channel ram? Also :
I think I'll buy 3x256 instead of 2x512 (or 1x 1024 ) Mb ram...would there be a huge difference between those 2? I am thinking of getting Kingston Hyper X btw...

 

[B.Calhoun]

ill be getting a mobo that has duel channel with my ram being 2x256 (512). This will be fine for future games like say STALKER too right?

 

[Roland Deschain]

This is a rumour and it's most likely wrong, but I've heard that Stalker's minimum requirement will be 512RAM, which kinda makes sense due to the large large outdoor environments, but don't hold me to this.

 

[Homie]

lol i have 768 mb ram i basically think 512 mb of ram is enough if you have a really good grahpics card but i do recomend haveing a little extra ram from the requirements from cs:S i had 256 mb ram then added 512 ram lol and no it didnt bring performance down it brought it up big time.

 

[B.Calhoun]

lol i have 768 mb ram i basically think 512 mb of ram is enough if you have a really good grahpics card but i do recomend haveing a little extra ram from the requirements from cs:S i had 256 mb ram then added 512 ram lol and no it didnt bring performance down it brought it up big time.

Ok cool. 9800pro is a really good graphics card in your opinion?

 

[Malfunction]

Ok cool. 9800pro is a really good graphics card in your opinion?

If you don't feel like spending $400+ on a card, yeah, the 9800 pro is a fine card.

 

[Xenome]

For a game as Far cry, 1 gig is required imo, else you get hangs for like 1 sec when driving in the jeep for example.

I think 1 gig is a requirement for these days, if you want to play without choppy gameplay.

 

[B.Calhoun]

pffft im not spending another 91 bucks to have 1gig. ill stick with 512 until i can upgrade another two stciks of 256mb.

 

[SiNNeR]

Does anyone know if i can put 3200 ram into my comp if the stated ram type is 2700? Its a sony vaio rs322 2.8ghz.

 

[Asus]

You probably could but it would run at PC2700 most likely.
No reason to do that. Might as well stick with PC2700 rated memory and save a few bucks.

I almost never buy 256MB sticks because it gets you caught in a bad place. For instance, if you ever want to get to 1GB you have to throw out the 256MB when using 2x 512MB sticks. I always recommend people get the memory they need now rather than just getting buy with 256 or 2x256.

 

[B.Calhoun]

You probably could but it would run at PC2700 most likely.
No reason to do that. Might as well stick with PC2700 rated memory and save a few bucks.

I almost never buy 256MB sticks because it gets you caught in a bad place. For instance, if you ever want to get to 1GB you have to throw out the 256MB when using 2x 512MB sticks. I always recommend people get the memory they need now rather than just getting buy with 256 or 2x256.

Say i have two sticks of 256, cant i just buy another two sticks of 256 each and put them in with my other two? Because arent there fours slots to place RAM in?

 

[SiNNeR]

will there be a big difference if my ram type is a 2700 if i upgrade to 1 gig from 512? Thnx for the help.

 

[iamaelephant]

I'm hopefully going to receive my extra 512mb tomorrow morning, so I'll let ya know then, SiNNeR

 

[Play4Fun]

My mobo supports up to 2GB 400DDR of ram (3GB if I have 3 sticks of 333DDR) and has only 3 slots. If I want to max my ram, what will be the best way to do so? I mean, like buying another 512Mb 400DDR and another 2Gb 333DDR??

 

[Asus]

I suppose you could do that.

 

[Illegal Amigo]

So I have two sticks of 256mb 3200 ram, but I have one slot left, and if I put a stick of 512 in the last slot (to make 1 gig) would that be bad?

I think you're supposed to match memory -- speed, capacity, and brand. I think it's supposed to work best that way.