RAM Speed vs. RAM Amount?

Question

I have a Dell Dimension 4600. I am upgrading the RAM. It currently has two sticks of DDR 256MB @333MHz (PC2700).

Which of these three setups would be best:

1. 2 sticks of DDR 256MB @ 333MHz (PC2700)
and
2 sticks of DDR 512MB @ 400MHz (PC3200)

2. 2 sticks of DDR 256MB @ 333MHz (PC2700)
and
2 sticks of DDR 512MB @ 333MHz (PC2700)

3. 2 sticks of DDR 512 @ 400MHz (PC3200)


I plan to use this computer for playing games. Please tell me which of the three above setups would work best for my computer. Do not tell me to upgrade to a higher frequency of RAM, because this is not possible with my motherboard. Do not tell me to upgrade to DDR-2 RAM because that is also not possible.

Thanks for your help!

I am using Windows XP, not Vista, and I don't plan on playing the super new games like Bioshock or Supreme Commander. Please do not give me suggestions to other configurations. I would just like to know which of the three I listed is best. Thanks.

Answer 1

Are you going to run vista? If so you want a minimum of 2GIGs RAM. In fact if you can afford it I would go 2GIGs anyway. I recommend at least 3200 speed RAM, you do not need more than that.

I also recommend you ONLY run 2 sticks and NOT 4. 2 Sticks offers much better stability and better use of RAM.

All the sticks you use should be the same. Do not mix amounts.


So if your only options are the ones you listed you best choice is to go with: 2 sticks of DDR 512 @ 400MHz (PC3200)

Answer 2

2 sticks of DDR 512MB @ 400MHz (PC3200)

Though, I really don't know how much "gaming" you'll be able to do. Hopefully you aren't trying to load BioShock or Half-Life 2: Episodes. You won't have great frame rates.

Dell uses propietary motherboards which is why you are having difficulty getting the RAM that you want. Depending on your CPU and GPU, it might be time to think about saving up for a new DX10 capable machine and use the Dimension for work stuff. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

UPDATE: Based upon your new information I would still stick with my answer. You want the largest, fastest RAM you can get. I'd go with that. Good luck.

Answer 3

Definetly go with the 2 sticks of DDR 512 @ 400MHz (PC3200), I'm not sure why you would ask this because it would be more and faster than the other options. I would also suggest to get more, only if you are running vista, xp works great on 768mb-1GB ram. Ram has gotten really cheap so these shouldnt be too expensive of options

Answer 4

If your motherboard supports ddr 400, then 2 x512mb ddr400 would be best. If dual channel mode is supported, matched pair is great.

Otherwise, you can do with the mixed set up but BIOS will synchronize all sticks at 333mhz.

Answer 5

The more memory you have, generally the more data you can have loaded at one time (such as programs and the content within them). The faster the memory is, the more bandwidth it has and the quicker it can read and transfer data to and from the memory. EDIT: CAS latency is, according to Wikipedia, "the delay time between the moment a memory controller tells the memory module to access a particular memory column on a RAM memory module, and the moment the data from given array location is available on the module's output pins. In general, the lower the CAS latency, the better."