Should I upgrade my RAM?

[DEATH eVADER]

I have 2x512mb PC3200 with a CAS latency of 3ms (it is ms right?), however I've seen corsair RAM with CAS of 2ms but costs £160 for the pair of 512mb PC3200. Is it worth upgrading. Will I see a performance boost.

For example the pearl harbour level in MOH: PA is a bit juddery when the Jap's show up, I believe its because the computers trying to process alot of scripted scenes and AI at the same time. Will having CAS latency of 2ms eliminate this problem?

 

[DrDevin]

You will see a benefit but a very small one. HL2 actually shows a "big" improvement compared to other games when it comes to ram latencies but big is only a couple FPS so it would be better just getting a better CPU/Videocard.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2330&p=4

I suggest overclocking your ram or getting 2GB which is very usefull in todays games (or CPU/Videocard like I said, especially more VRAM).

 

[DEATH eVADER]

You will see a benefit but a very small one. HL2 actually shows a "big" improvement compared to other games when it comes to ram latencies but big is only a couple FPS so it would be better just getting a better CPU/Videocard.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2330&p=4

I suggest overclocking your ram or getting 2GB which is very usefull in todays games (or CPU/Videocard like I said, especially more VRAM).

It wasn't the fps that I was refering to, but a momentary pausing of the game (usually 0.5 to 1 second)

My fps are very good as I have a BFG 6600GTOC as well as an AMD 64bit 3000+

 

[The Hulk]

Upgrading from 3 to 2.5 or 2 latency will not help your problem. Possibly more ram would help though - get another 512M or 1G....

Hulk

 

[Asus]

I don't think lower latency memory will help your problem either. Are you running those 2 sticks in dual channel memory?

 

[holydeadpenguins]

It's in cycles not seconds.

 

[psyno]

It's in cycles not seconds.

Yep, otherwise that would correspond to a memory speed of 1 kilohertz.

Rest of system specs?

 

[DEATH eVADER]

Elitegroup KV1 deluxe Mother
AMD Athlon 64Bit 3000 @ 2000Mhz
2x512mb PC3200 at CAS latency 3 (Dual Channel)
GeForce BFG 6600GT OC
Relysis 17' Monitor running at refresh rate of 70Hz

 

[Asus]

Yeah you are fine with what you have. I wouldn't add another stick of memory just because it wouldn't run in dual channel then. Whatever the issue it isn't your hardware specs.

Although I would defrag your harddrive just incase.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

thanks for your advice, I'll do that now. Bearing in mind I have two HDD's:
c drive contains windows and steam as well as other windows applications
e drive contains my games

should I defrag my E drive or defrag both? (If I have time)

 

[Chris D]

If you have Windows NT/2000/XP then click on Analyze. That will tell you if it needs doing. If it says it needs defragging then go for it.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

Yeah, I'm already doing it. I can't wait to see the difference

 

[Asus]

If you have programs running in the background then I would turn some of those off as well. programs by the clock are the easiest to turn off.

If you have an AntiVirus that actively scans files then as your game loads it is probably scanning whats in memory too.