The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    6GB Ram with CrossFire HD 5870 OR 8GB Ram with 1 HD 5870??

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by daniel1112333, Jun 7, 2010.

  1. daniel1112333

    daniel1112333 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    6GB Ram with CrossFire HD 5870 OR 8GB Ram with 1 HD 5870??

    What should I choose? for better gaming?
     
    daniel1112333, Jun 7, 2010
    #1
  2. Glzmo

    Glzmo Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    476
    Messages:
    822
    Likes Received:
    86
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Get the second card for crossfire. It's the best choice for gaming, hands down. You won't see much improvement going higher than 4GB RAM when gaming, but two video cards will pack much more of a punch in games. If you are using 64 applications that use loads of RAM, however, 8GB will help you. But not for gaming. Unless you play 64 bit games which there are few. And even then, it wouldn't be nearly as much of an improvement as a second video card would be (at least if the game works with Crossfire, which most games do).
    Besides that, 6GB of RAM will run in asynchronous dual channel mode (as opposed to proper, synchronous dual channel mode), so you may want to just go with 4GB and get a more powerful CPU or an SSD to go with it.
     
    Glzmo, Jun 7, 2010
    #2
  3. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,395
    Messages:
    7,964
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Going to generate several mixed answers on this... IMO 6GB vs 8GB is not going to change gaming performance.

    Stick with the x-fire. The only time you need 8GB is if you are going to be doing some major intensive work with your system which benefits from more RAM. If you do, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you don't, stick with 4GB or 6GB.
     
    BatBoy, Jun 7, 2010
    #3
  4. kcuk

    kcuk Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    96
    Messages:
    607
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    6GB Ram with CrossFire HD 5870 is what you should go for bud
     
    kcuk, Jun 7, 2010
    #4
  5. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

    Reputations:
    7,383
    Messages:
    8,222
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Crossfire, 4GB RAM and a HDD or CPU upgrade with the money you save ;) for most users 4GB is plenty of RAM and most won't notice and differance between 4GB , 6GB, 8GB. Like Batboy said, if you need more than 6GB RAM, than you know you need it. If your unsure, you probably don't know if you need it. Save the money for another upgrade. But it's your system and your call. Eitherway you'll love the M17x R2
     
    DR650SE, Jun 7, 2010
    #5
  6. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Yeah save your money and stick with 4GB and Crossfire.
     
    sgogeta4, Jun 7, 2010
    #6
  7. Mandrake

    Mandrake Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,976
    Messages:
    12,675
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    466
    SSD instead if more memory for better performance.
     
    Mandrake, Jun 7, 2010
    #7
  8. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

    Reputations:
    536
    Messages:
    2,087
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I would vote not to get 6GB either, simply because of the fact that it's single channel. Either 4 or 8 are the best choices. I wouldn't waste my money on 4GB in 1333 flavor either(since if you upgrade you'll be replacing both modules). 1333mhz DDR3 ram in 8Gb packages run for $300 ish these days, which is very affordable.
     
    Lozz, Jun 7, 2010
    #8
  9. daniel1112333

    daniel1112333 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ok thank you guys!!
     
    daniel1112333, Jun 7, 2010
    #9
  10. hitokiri1

    hitokiri1 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i gave up 8GB to 4GB to get crossfire. Memory is alot easier to upgrade in the end.
     
    hitokiri1, Jun 7, 2010
    #10
  11. lordqarlyn

    lordqarlyn Global Biz Consultant

    Reputations:
    73
    Messages:
    1,056
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    gotta agree with x-fire. Right now, its going to be the best performance booster, particularly if you are into gaming.
     
    lordqarlyn, Jun 7, 2010
    #11
  12. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Actually 6GB wouldn't run in single channel, but asynchronous dual channel.
     
    sgogeta4, Jun 7, 2010
    #12
  13. hitokiri1

    hitokiri1 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    This is true, and 8GB or memory in my experience doesn't help with performance much over 4GB. Its nice to have but I don't think i've ever needed it.
     
    hitokiri1, Jun 7, 2010
    #13
  14. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

    Reputations:
    536
    Messages:
    2,087
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    56
    It appears you've caught me at something I was not aware of(i've been out of the computer world for a few years until only recently) . Although as I understand it, asynchronous still is no where near the bandwidth of synchronous mode, so the argument stands.
     
    Lozz, Jun 7, 2010
    #14
  15. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    730
    Messages:
    1,715
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    56
    x2 for put the extra cash towards a SSd drive if you can
     
    dave-p, Jun 7, 2010
    #15