AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › RAM Upgrade
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

RAM Upgrade

post #1 of 6
8/25/07 at 5:17am
Thread Starter 
I currently use generic PC-6400 800Mhz RAM (1GB) in my P5B-E mobo and E4300 CPU.

I'm wondering if upgrading to 2x1GB matched pairs of some OCZ or Corsair performance RAM will improve performance within each of the two areas of use for my HTPC:

1. HD .ts file playback using either CoreAVC for h264 or TT+Purevideo for 1080p, etc. file playback.
2. Gaming - namely World of Warcraft

I think for #2 it definitely will but what about for #1?

Also, as a side question, is there a specific type of matched pair RAM that I should avoid for my P5B-E mobo?
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 6
8/25/07 at 6:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeFigueiredo View Post

I currently use generic PC-6400 800Mhz RAM (1GB) in my P5B-E mobo and E4300 CPU.

I'm wondering if upgrading to 2x1GB matched pairs of some OCZ or Corsair performance RAM will improve performance within each of the two areas of use for my HTPC:

1. HD .ts file playback using either CoreAVC for h264 or TT+Purevideo for 1080p, etc. file playback.
2. Gaming - namely World of Warcraft

I think for #2 it definitely will but what about for #1?

Also, as a side question, is there a specific type of matched pair RAM that I should avoid for my P5B-E mobo?

To tell if it will, hit Control+Alt+Delete and watch your memory usage during playback. If you see the combined RAM and Page File usage is near or above 1GB, then more ram will help.

I would make sure not to spend too much, however. The performance of more expensive, low-latency PC-6400 RAM at stock speeds will only be slightly different than your cheapo PC-6400 RAM at stock speeds. The only reasons not to get the cheaper ram are to avoid instability (which I assume you do not have right now with your generic ram), and to be able to overclock better.

If you want some high performance RAM, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820609026 is all you need. It is under $100 and very, very stable.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 6
8/25/07 at 7:42am
Thread Starter 
I'll try that, but I'm also asking about the quality of the RAM upgrade as well improving performance?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 6
8/25/07 at 11:21am
Thread Starter 
I ended up picking up the following RAM:
Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz E.P.P. Memory (2 x 1024)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...4&body=REVIEWS
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 6
8/25/07 at 11:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeFigueiredo View Post

I ended up picking up the following RAM:
Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz E.P.P. Memory (2 x 1024)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...4&body=REVIEWS

You payed too much, just so you know. The memory you got was DDR2-800 with 4-4-4-12 timings.

The memory I linked to was DDR2-800 with 4-4-3-8 timings, which means it is faster.

EDIT: Oh, you are in Canada. That changes everything.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 6
8/25/07 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greeniguana00 View Post


EDIT: Oh, you are in Canada. That changes everything.

yes, I was about to mention that.

Question though, in my P5B-E mobo under Northbridge config I can set the RAM Timings.

The first 4 should be manually set to 4-4-4-12 right? Or should I just leave it as "RAM configured by SPD", which doesn't allow me to edit those specific settings?
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Home Theater Computers

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › RAM Upgrade