Ideally I want 2GB RAM BUTTTTTT if I get 1GB RAM , does a dual core processor help? I mean, will it still be quick? can I compensate for the lower RAM by having a dual core processor?(with vista?)
2007-06-29 03:10:45 · 6 answers · asked by Neen 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
and why is it better?
2007-06-29 03:18:14 · update #1
I work from my PC and run Access, Outlook, web and word (usually all at once).
2007-06-29 03:20:38 · update #2
Oh definitely go for a Dual Core processor any day ....you can always upgrade your RAM from 1 GB to 2 GB later. Believe me you'll thank me ;-)
2007-06-29 03:14:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get both. ram is only around 50-60 a gb for high speed ram and u can get a low end dual core like the e4300 for 100 dollars totalling at most 250 with shiipping.
but if you're on a price constraint of 100-150 dollars id get the ram first. ram prices are pretty low right now and ive noticed them slowly climbing up again. also 2 gb ram will work well and not be bottlenecked by a p4 or whatever processor you have. in fact ull see a noticable difference.
most importantly theyre expecting intel price cuts around july when the quad cores come out :) so it would be pointless to pay 100-200 for a processor now to have it drop 30% in price later on
2007-06-29 03:20:07 · answer #2 · answered by jcjunkact 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can never have enough RAM,. even the worlds BEST processors can do with having more RAM to work with, so in answer to your question regarding compensating for less RAM by having a Dual Core CPU,.. not really,. the best advice I can give is simple; get a good CPU and back it up with the 2Gb of RAM you initially suggested. It'll be much better :)
2007-06-29 03:15:31 · answer #3 · answered by wildimagination2003 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you've got the money, and you're using your machine for a dedicated gaming machine, with average standard usage, I'd recommend you think of your resources in this order of importance.
1. RAM is most important! (Vista is a RAM hog, and when my new laptop arrives, i'll happily fdisk my hard drive (using the /mbr switch to clear the Master Boot Record) and installing my legal copy of Windows 2000 Professional!)
2. After you've got your RAM, you need a good video card, with it's own RAM! (make certain you've got a power supply that can handle this, and a bit more, for future upgrades (min. 450Watt PS).
3. CPU: most of the newest processors out there are adequate for *** kickery, as long as the first two items are properly looked after!
4. Hard Drives... now we're talking about milliseconds! are you a professional gamer? I met one guy who was... it was sick to see him play! His machine was a $10,000 machine, and he didn't ask about building it... he had it built! he made that kind of sick cash, playing games! I'd not worry beyond getting a 7200 rpm hdd, over a 5400 drive...
Operating Systems: Underated in dedicated Gaming machines! I'd recommend Windows 2000 Professional; it's a more stable OS, than vista, likely to still be compatible with your newer games... you'd have to have a legal copy to download the latest drivers, but Win2kpro only needs 128Mb RAM to run (absolute minimum, but more stable with 256Mb though, imagine it with 2Gb!?), but still... the rest of your RAM is for performance!
My last (absolute last) choice for a gaming maching OS would be Vista!!! it's a RAM hog, takes away control of the machine, and puts it into the OS, Microsoft is turning the PC into the Mac!, and it sucks! Besides, Vista is new, and will be buggy for the first few years! I used a beta version a year ago, and was NOT impressed with it.
Once you have a decent OS, that doesn't HOG all your resources, then look into your hardware. A dual processor maching will only be of benefit to software written to take advantage of it, otherwise, you're just spending money on something because it has a label.
2007-06-29 03:27:10 · answer #4 · answered by Mark MacIver 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ram won't make the processor faster, however it will enable the pc to run faster overall!
vista has a nice trick of allowing you to use a usb stick to improve the performance!!
you can get a decent 2gig stick for around £20pounds and hey presto you have 3gig memory available to you!!!!
(it's not as fast as dedicated ram but massively helps vista with the bells and whistles stuff!!!!)
to read how to do it visit www.computeractive.co.uk!!!
don't ask me via mail as i'd have to charge!! ;)
2007-06-29 04:32:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok so far i see two different answer - let me give you my opinion - my answer is it depends on what you are going to be doing with the computer - if you are going to be gaming - then go with more memory - if you are going to be doing average stuff (surf the web, word processing, home office kind of stuff) then 1GB should be fine -
Either way I would go with a dual core processor - or at least a dual core ready mobo
2007-06-29 03:19:21 · answer #6 · answered by lancej0hns0n 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋