Is 8gb worth it?

[!TIMMY!]

Lo All,

I am toying with the idea of getting 4 x 2gb ddr2 PC2 8500 for my upgrade as it is so cheap atm. But my question is, would it be worth it over 2 x 2gb? I have read this and I am still undecided. I use my pc primary for video editing and games. Is anyone currently running 8gb? My mate is and he said it is, but then again hes addicted to high end components.

 

[Rastalovich]

It`s hard to say 100%, but I can throw a few things out. The graphic edit apples we have only sport 2g, same with the tv edit. The pcs generally have 2g, but it has been known for some pc editing software to demand 4g.

Main software would be Final Cut suite(s) for tv stuff.

Games ? Only really hit 76% of 4g being used, and that was a piece of beta gaming that I swear had a memory hole cos it grew from around 51%. A football management game used 66%, nothing has complained about 4g.

8G ? I probably wouldn`t buy it, but if it was laying on my desk, I would stick it in for giggles.

 

[SuB]

if you're running 64 bit and video editing majorly, (which software?) then personally i'd say the more the merrier,

if you can afford it, why not?

 

[llwyd]

Like sub said, if youre running 64bit vista (which you wont be) and doing some serious video or graphic editing while tabbed out of games, playing music, browing the web with 20 tabs open and ripping a DVD all at the same time, go for it. If not stick with 4GB and spend the money elsewhere

 

[!TIMMY!]

I have a budget of roughly £700 after ive bought the water cooling stuff.

Really stuck weather to go SLI or not, if I dont then that free's up £230 (cause I dont have to buy a 8800GT and PSU), so I could afford 8gb. Was thinking of that DFI X48 LT, Q6600 and 8gb ram. I really cant justify spending the extra £100 on a q9450 when it doesn't seem to oc as consistently and is only 8-10% better.

 

[ionicle]

keep at 4 gig, get faster if neceserry, but there's no need for 8 yet

 

[SuB]

don't go sli lol thats my advice i tried it and hated it

with you saying video editing have you considered dual monitor setup?

if so SLI will totally ruin that, after 2 years of them saying 'we'll fix it so you can still dual screen with sli' they never have to my knowledge so its kinda pointless

i'd either get another screen, got for 8gb of ram with 64bit vista or.. save!!! won't burn a hole in the pocket lol

 

[!TIMMY!]

I have 2 monitors and dual screen them. Yeah I think ill go for the X48 and oc the q6600 with 4/8gb ddr2. I guess if I save a chunk of my budget then I can always upgrade again in 6 months time.

 

[ionicle]

i say get 4Gb, but get 4 Gb of really good, really fast stuff

 

[SuB]

faster ram won't make THAT much difference? i'd totally go for 8gb and AVOID SLI like a plague if you're dual screening it mate

 

[DTSBasketball]

8gb Would be nice but not really needed right now.

 

[!TIMMY!]

Ye well I can always get another 4gb in the future when I need it and when it is cheaper.

Will stay away from SLI, and maybe one day ill xfire some ATI cards

 

[Azza]

Mate of mine recently got 8gb of RAM so he can have massive games on SupCom without the game getting all laggy, so he says.

No idea if it has even improved anything else other than SupCom.

Does seem a bit of a waste though seen as he wont be able to use it when he gets a new PC as DDR3 will prolly be the mainstream with Nehalem and all.

 

[stilup]

8gb Ddr2

I have been running 4X2 Mushkin HP-6400 DDR2 and I find that it hampers the O/C. In order to O/C past 3Ghz I need to slow the memory speed and the n/b speed but I did gain in FPS in Crysis.

I can definenetly O/C faster with only 2X2GB. Since I run Vista 64 I do use it.

If I had known I wouldn't of bought the extra 4GB but I have it.

 

[RollerCam540]

Hi Timmy,

Everyone here has given you lucid advice. You should be glad that you've been so well informed.

Personally, I don't think there's a universal answer to the question "should anyone buy 8GB?" Why do you feel 8GB may benifit you? What provoked the question?

Firstly, you'll need a 64bit operating system for 8GB. Without it, the system cannot address RAM above 4GB; you'd be lucky if the system addressed RAM above 3.25GB as some video cards rob the system of RAM due to their Memory Mapped IO. Secondly, Vista has a few security features, on which I won't elaborate, that cannot function in a 32-bit enviornment -- making a 64bit OS an enticing alternative. Thirdly, 64-bit operating systems have a bigger "footprint" than their 32-bit counterpart, so you should expect the 64bit version of Vista to "eat" more memory than its 32-bit counterpart. Additionally, not all software is designed for or compatible with a 64bit operating system: the aforementioned advantages may be far outweighed by other disadvantages, depending on your intentions. Lastly, not all software has been optimized for a 64bit enviornment, so you may gain nothing by having 8GB of RAM.

To answer your question, you should build a computer so that it best suits your needs with a given budget. Ask yourself what you plan to use the computer for, then make your selections accordingly.

 

[!TIMMY!]

I think ill stick with getting 4gb and go 8gb at a later date. Thanks all for the advice.