RAM - Which is Better?

[smartpoints]

Hi everyone,
For Christmas I got 4gb of RAM for my desktop (2x2gb - DDR2_800). I currently have 2gb in my computer (2x1gb - DDR2_667). Should I go for 6gb and put one of each stick in each channel, or just go for the faster 4gb? I know this could be more of an opinion type question, but tell me what you think. Also, I understand that around 4gb, there are some limitations of the x86 architecture that comes into play. Can someone please explain to me what the benifits would be if I switched to Vista 64bit as well as the limitations of keeping 32bit Vista?

Thanks for your time.

 

[tylerc]

Well, this ENTIRELY depends on what you do.

First off if you remain in the x86 environment, then definitely forget the 2GB of slower ram. Anything over 4GB is absolutely useless and unaddressable (Usually in the 3-3.5GB range... 4gb is an approximate and the ABSOLUTE maximum if you have no graphics card or other IRQ usages)

If you go x64 then you can address (almost) all the RAM you could dream of, atleast in the next decade. Any x86 application has a 2gb limit in the new environment, however the system can address more than 4gb, and any 64 bit application (such as photoshop cs4, 3ds max, or Vue 7) can address all your ram.

So if you go x64, then the issue becomes more prodominant.

I do heavy CG work and rarely go over my 4gb, but it does happen. You won't see any general windows/internet browsing improvements by using the 6gb vs. 4gb. You probably won't see any game improvements either, maybe crysis on modified maximums of all maximums, but even that is unlikely to break the barrier since crysis is 64 bit enabled.

Realize that if you're paging it does NOT necesarily mean the 6gb would help... if the application is of the x86 variety (you can tell in your ctrl del process page... if there is a *32 after the exe, then it is only 32 bit app and only capable of addressing 2gb regardless of your operating system or total RAM).

I'd only suggest 6gb if you're the I'll have premiere open with 3ds rendering, while editing graphics in photoshop cs4, playing flac music with winamp visualizations, while also having 55 web pages open, type of person.

Doctor Dre was here.