PDA

View Full Version : Ram or CPU?

JoeTheDude
06-20-2004, 07:22 PM
My Current System Specs:
Windows XP
Pentuim 4, 2.6 GHz, 800 MHz FSB.
512 MB PC 3200 DDR (Two 256 MB Dimms, as they must be in pairs with my setup).
Nvidia GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256MB (AGP 8x).
SB Audigy MP3+ Sound Card.
40GB WD Hard Drive (IDE/ATA 100).
Old DVD Reader and CDR/RW Burner combo drive.
Intel 865PERLL Motherboard.
Two unused memory slots.


So the question is, which will give me the most noticible boost in preformance for PC Gaming and running emus?
Should I get more Ram (For a total of 1 GB of RAM) or a 3.2 GHz (Non-Extreme) P4?

The basic speed difrence in CPUs would be 600 MHz, (and cost about $280) but the ram size would double (and cost about $90).

By the way, if I go with the +512 MB RAM Upgrade option, I'll have plenty of cash left to add another 512 MB RAM to my wife's PC, which is identical to my pc (except she has more hard drives and a TV Tuner).
My upgrade budget is $300

Should I even bother doing either one or is there an option I've overlooked?

<P ID="signature"></P>
CEpeep
06-20-2004, 07:25 PM
Go for the RAM. You can also get a considerable speed boost from most applications by reformatting and reinstalling Windows if you haven't done it in awhile. <img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

<P ID="signature"><hr>
"Every gun that is made every warship launched every rocket fired signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed those who are cold and are not clothed"
Eisenhower</P>
JCE3000GT
06-20-2004, 07:28 PM
> Go for the RAM. You can also get a considerable speed boost
> from most applications by reformatting and reinstalling
> Windows if you haven't done it in awhile.

I'd agree on RAM. You've got a decent processor now as it is.

*Edit*
You could get 1GB or more of RAM and disable your virtual memory. Or get windows not to use it before RAM.

<P ID="signature"></P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by JCE3000GT on 06/20/04 03:32 PM.</FONT></P>
World_Demise
06-20-2004, 10:35 PM
Go with the RAM, buy a good heatsink and overclock yer CPU.

<P ID="signature">i need a friend, please be my companion
i don't want to be left alone with my sanity</P>
blackize
06-21-2004, 12:41 AM
I'm with everyone else on this one, upgrade your memory. It's cheaper than purchasing a new CPU. Also, as thegodofhellfire said, you should overclock your CPU. Your system as it is now is effective at running almost every game available for Windows, as well as performing multimedia tasks. You could also gain a speed increase within Windows if you disable unnecessary services (see http://www.blackviper.com or by adding a faster hard drive. Check NewEgg.com out for your needs, they're cheap and ship pretty fast.

<P ID="signature"></P>
MasterHD
06-21-2004, 05:53 AM
Doubling the RAM can have the effect of doubling the computer's speed at some things (ie. loading Windows/games). Its an easier way to boost performance and it's cheaper than buying a new processor.

<P ID="signature">________________________________________________
It's complicated, we're blue, its blue... Tucker, you tell him why the flags so important.
Red v. Blue (http://www.redvsblue.com)</P>
JoeTheDude
06-21-2004, 12:30 PM
Thank you all for your suggestions, tips and the link to that tweaking website.
<img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

I've decided to go for the ram upgrade for both my pc and my wifes, as well as getting myself two serial ata drives and setting up RAID 0.

<P ID="signature"></P>
World_Demise
06-21-2004, 01:48 PM
> I've decided to go for the ram upgrade for both my pc and my
> wifes, as well as getting myself two serial ata drives and
> setting up RAID 0.
>
You know, they say that RAID doesn't improve gaming performance one bit. It does improve performance if you write a lot to the disk, but for reading things off the disk, RAID doesn't really increase performance.

<P ID="signature">i need a friend, please be my companion
i don't want to be left alone with my sanity</P>