Ram Upgrade 2gb To 4gb On Vista 32

[opalhort]

My son would like to upgrade his PC (Vista ultimate 32) from 2 to 4GB Ram.

I've read that there are problems with this, but he insists that even if Vista can not detect the full Ram the games will still run better.

Is this true?

He will also get a new Samsung wide screen (21.5") monitor and a new VGA card needed for this.

My only concern is the RAM, is it a waste of money or does it actually help improve his "gaming experience"?

opalhort

[dttk0009]

There's lots of things to consider with RAM. Doubling from 2 to 4 gigs will certainly be noticeable in most games (faster load times), and over all improves the speed of the system, OS included. I'd say what's more important are the specs of your CPU, specifically the FSB, when purchasing new RAM, because you don't want to end up bottle-necking it.

[H2oDunc]

32 bit Vista will only recognise and use 3 gig. I tried to stick 4 in and it just booted into safe mode every time till I took out a 2 gb strip and put in the 1 gb it came with. It does work a lot faster with 3 gb than it did with 1gb. 64 bit Vista will use the full 4 gb if your machine can take it ? If you bought Vista then you will have the 64 bit disc. To find out if your computer can take 64. Right click my compter and chose properties in the bottom left, then click the performance tab and click on the view and print details. If you scroll down it will tell you if it is 64 bit capable

[Lost in LOS]

I have a reasonably new Acer desktop an it has the I7 CPU and came with 6GB ram 64bit operating system. dont know it this helps or not

[H2oDunc]

The 64 bit Vista can take the increased ram but the 32 cannot. He has 32 bit!

[surface]

With a 32bit Vista install, and a new video card, he will actually be limited to about 3GB of RAM. The 4GB limit includes everything on the PCI bus. With 512MB on the Video card (possibly 1GB), you're looking at 2.8GB - 3.3GB for Vista.

If possible add 1GB of RAM to bring the total to 3GB. The cost for 1GB is so cheap these days, so if you have the spare slots on the MB it's just not worth putting too much thoughy into it. Just buy it.

[opalhort]

Thank you very much for all your replies

Basically it confirms what I've already found on the net.

We have already a firm order with our PC shop and installation will be tomorrow.

Here is what we will get and the prices:

Monitor:

Samsung LD220G 21.5" LCD Monitor Dynamic Contrast 20000:1 # LD220G/LS22LFUGFZ/XT = 8000 Baht

VGA card:

GIGABYTE GV_N96TZL_512I NVIDIA GEFORCE 9600GT,512MB DDR3, 256BIT, CCLK700, MCLK1800 = 3400 Baht!

RAM:

2GB x 2 = 2400 Baht

Power supply (good quality)!

650W = 800 Baht

The above quote is from our PC shop's order confirmation.

Does this sound about right?

opalhort

[Benjie]

I'd forget about the slight ram upgrade and put that money towards a better graphics card. You should be looking for at least a 9800GT for games.

[d0ndela]

Those prices sounds about right, I think the prices are lower in Bangkok than outside? Anyways those are really good prices compared to what the parts cost at the distributors.

[surface]

I don't want to say that the video card you're ordering is a ripoff, but it's definitely over priced for what it is. For that price you could get an HD4850 which is about twice as powerful as what you've got there. Check out the following review. While the 9600GT isn't listed, it's slightly slower than the HD3870 (at the bottom of the pack).

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=14

Available at Busitek for 3,850 baht.

Sapphire

HD 4850 512MB DDR3

3,850 Baht

[dttk0009]

I don't want to say that the video card you're ordering is a ripoff, but it's definitely over priced for what it is. For that price you could get an HD4850 which is about twice as powerful as what you've got there. Check out the following review. While the 9600GT isn't listed, it's slightly slower than the HD3870 (at the bottom of the pack).

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=14

Available at Busitek for 3,850 baht.

Sapphire

HD 4850 512MB DDR3

3,850 Baht

Totally agreed. For low to medium price range you want to stick with ATI. They'll give you the most bang for your buck.

[ignis]

I bought a new graphics card from J.I.B. a few months back for 4,000 baht. 1GB GEFORCE 9800GT.

[ianwuk]

As long as the memory is compatible (correct speed) then 32-bit Windows (Vista/7) can identify and use 3.5GB 64-bit can identify and use more.

Ian

[webfact]

As long as the memory is compatible (correct speed) then 32-bit Windows (Vista/7) can identify and use 3.5GB 64-bit can identify and use more.

Ian

short remark

it depends on your motherboard and should at least support 667/533 DDR2

Dual channel architecture. Attention: If you mix (what you can) Ram will always run on the lower speed of a module -

in my above mentioned example its 533 then

[opalhort]

it depends on your motherboard and should at least support 667/533 DDR2

Dual channel architecture. Attention: If you mix (what you can) Ram will always run on the lower speed of a module -

in my above mentioned example its 533 then

We are going to replace the entire RAM set, so no mixing of type.

The MB is ASUS P5LD2-X and we were told by the shop that it can support the RAM.

opalhort

[Beggar]

Just do it. You will end up with more RAM than now - not the 4 GB. But still more. RAM does not cost so much. You will end up with more RAM and a happy child for almost next to nothing.

[opalhort]

Update:

Our computer shop guy came this evening and installed a new VGA card and RAM and the new monitor.

VGA: he pointed out that ATI is good and cheaper but he gets many PCs in his shop which have problems mostly caused by overheating. In his opinion the Gforce cards are much more reliable.

RAM: he installed the 4GB (2x2) and the BIOS and VISTA show the full 4GB! even within some games it shows available memory as 4GB. Yes, the Vista is confirmed as 32bit version!

With the new monitor and RAM my son is now super happy to say the least.

Thanks for all your input.

opalhort

[dttk0009]

Update:

Our computer shop guy came this evening and installed a new VGA card and RAM and the new monitor.

VGA: he pointed out that ATI is good and cheaper but he gets many PCs in his shop which have problems mostly caused by overheating. In his opinion the Gforce cards are much more reliable.

RAM: he installed the 4GB (2x2) and the BIOS and VISTA show the full 4GB! even within some games it shows available memory as 4GB. Yes, the Vista is confirmed as 32bit version!

With the new monitor and RAM my son is now super happy to say the least.

Thanks for all your input.

opalhort

The problems of overheating are usually caused by poor airflow/cooling/casing, not ATI cards, though they do typically run hotter than the average nvidia. As far as reliability goes they're both on equal terms. ATI's driver problems are a thing of the past.

Good to hear that your son's thrilled I get a little exited myself when I think about building a new gaming machine. I'll probably get to building a new one next summer.

[ianwuk]

Update:

Our computer shop guy came this evening and installed a new VGA card and RAM and the new monitor.

VGA: he pointed out that ATI is good and cheaper but he gets many PCs in his shop which have problems mostly caused by overheating. In his opinion the Gforce cards are much more reliable.

RAM: he installed the 4GB (2x2) and the BIOS and VISTA show the full 4GB! even within some games it shows available memory as 4GB. Yes, the Vista is confirmed as 32bit version!

With the new monitor and RAM my son is now super happy to say the least.

Thanks for all your input.

opalhort

If you install Vista Service Pack 1 then it will correct the amount of memory it sees to around 3.5GB. Also, just because Vista says it can see 4GB does not mean you get to use the whole 4GB.

Ian

[opalhort]

Also, just because Vista says it can see 4GB does not mean you get to use the whole 4GB.

Ian

Quite true.

So far the BIOS confirms 4GB, Vista does confirm it, some of his games also report 4GB available and some monitoring software (running constantly) that shows CPU and mem usage also report 4GB.

Of course this is not a 100% proof that all is utilized by Vista. Any way to find out for sure?

But it does not matter much since his games are running much faster and more smoothly and he is happy about it, so no big deal if ½GB is dropped somewhere along the way.

opalhort

NB: yes it is running SP1