stupid guy wants 4GB of RAM...

[jfenwick]

K, my brother in law fancies himself a knowledgeable computer guy and is insisting on getting 4GB of RAM for his computer...he's using XP and his budget is only around $750 or so.

From what I've read in these forums the second 2GB is a waste, unless on Vista and doing significant video editing (which he doesn't do at all). I'm trying to convince him to put the extra $$$ into his GPU instead...from a 8600gts to an 8800gts but he's being stubborn.

Anyone have a link to show the lack of gain of 4gb or even 3gb over 2gb dual channel? Thanks...don't want the dork to waste his $$$ and he's too stubborn to take my advice.

The build is for school and gaming.

 

[veg1992]

here ya go:

BCCHardware - Tech News & More! - Windows Vista - RAM and Gaming

this guy calls himself knowledgeable in PC's? also you may wanna show the diff btw the 8600gts and the 8800gts 320mb

8600GT/GTS Benchmark Compilation - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

here it is

 

[gurusan]

Unless he has 64bit XP the 4gb won't even be recognized.

8800GTS first, then 4gb if you have a 64 bit OS. 4gb is beginning to be the new standard....

2gb isn't cutting it for me with Vista 64 and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.

 

[commandercup]

just lie to him and say xp only recognizes 2 gigs lol

what a waste... thats ridiculous if he ever plans to game or watch hd content, he should get the 8800 over the 4 gigs...

 

[veg1992]

another recommendation..... might wanna get a 2900pro see how that goes

 

[Sora]

Unless he has 64bit XP the 4gb won't even be recognized.

8800GTS first, then 4gb if you have a 64 bit OS. 4gb is beginning to be the new standard....

2gb isn't cutting it for me with Vista 64 and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.

With Vista 2GB or more is needed however in XP 2GB for the newest of games we all know is plenty while 1GB at a lower resolution will offer very good framerates still.

 

[jfenwick]

yeah. already did the 2900pro thing, told hit it was on par with the 8800....he's still on the 4gb rant. and XP is 32 bit, I know cuz i gave it to him

He's not bad with software but I think he assumes that carries him over into the hardware world....like default knowledge or something.

Lol, atleast I know, and admit, I'm ignorant in both worlds!

Thanks for the links i'll pass them along

 

[veg1992]

yeah. already did the 2900pro thing, told hit it was on par with the 8800....he's still on the 4gb rant. and XP is 32 bit, I know cuz i gave it to him

He's not bad with software but I think he assumes that carries him over into the hardware world....like default knowledge or something.

Lol, atleast I know, and admit, I'm ignorant in both worlds!

Thanks for the links i'll pass them along

lol?? your ignorant?? lol thats the stupidest thing i've ever heard... besides another person saying 1 to the 8th power is 8... but this is sillier... you seem smart in Hardware...

 

[gurusan]

With Vista 2GB or more is needed however in XP 2GB for the newest of games we all know is plenty while 1GB at a lower resolution will offer very good framerates still.

Even in XP games like WIC, SupCom, ET:QW, BF2142 all benefit significantly from 4gb.

It's more the games, less the OS.

 

[Sora]

Woah woah....I remember looking a while back when SupCom came out that at max details and a Core 2 Extreme with an 8800GTX I can't remember the resolution but I believe at 1600x1200 it was 37 FPS with 1GB, 38 FPS with 2GB, and still only 38 FPS with 4GB. Let me find that article now.

EDIT: Found it
Supreme Commander Hardware Performance Guide - Features at GameSpot