Upgrading to 4GB RAM

Well I'm getting ready for GTA IV now so with these recommended specs I think I should upgrade my RAM to 4GB, right? I think it should make a difference (I know I could still only use 3GB.

Recommended
OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1Ghz
Memory: 2.5GB Vista / 2.5GB XP, 18GB Free Hard Drive Space
Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512MB ATI 3870

I checked overclockers who are out of stock and novatech uk who don't offer delivery for some strange reason . And now I arrived at the crucial site: http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=AREA-51 m15x Would the 4GB pack definitely fit? Would I have to call Alienware to document the upgrade?

Oh and they better apply the VAT cut tomorrow .

 

Any 667MHz would do fine. Go for Crucial 4Gb kit they fit so well and work great. You dont need to call AW to upgrade ram.

Here is the official KB to upgrade RAM
http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/...3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PW0xNXggcmFt&p_li=&p_topview=1

BTW are you planning to join the 64bit team? Without 64bit you cant enjoy your 4GB and true system performance.

 

Thank you findvikas!

Well, I don't know about changing to 64bit. Maybe I will but not just yet because I'd need to buy another Vista 64bit OS from what I've heard and I'm actually trying to save money now for my travels, but maybe next year sometime.

 

that 4Gb kit will work, but you might be overpaying a bit because it's 800mhz RAM (your mobo only supports 667mhz).

 

no whizzo, they do have 667mhz kits as well.
This is the one I was talking about.. $52.99 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148201

 

Looks like they're the same price:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT25664AC800 800mhz

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT25664AC667 667 mhz

So it doesn't matter which I buy then.

 

wait, whizzo...are you sure m15x can't handle 800 mhz?

 

i am, yes. the RAM will downclock to 667mhz, because the Santa rosa motherboard won't support more.

 

sry if its a n00by question but does the downclocking to 667 decrease performance? If he got the 800 would he notice the difference between that and the 667?

 

no decrease in perfomance.
kind of like using 4 cylinders out of a 6 cylinder engine.

 

I would quote it like this, driving a car within the range of 60-65KMPH. Ofcourse the speed is not max you can have in that gear but the mileage you get is more.

Less speed means, less memory errors and more stable systems. In this modern age memory errors are very less but you can reduce it even further. If you buy a CAS latency 6 RAM running @ 800Mhz it will run at CAS 5 under 667Mhz.

 

see, i was not going to quote you on your CAS latency improvement from other threads where you have stated it also.
i was trying to keep it simple...
but glad you came in and made the point....

 

The 667 Mhz kit has a CAS Latency of 5. So are you saying that the 800Mhz kit downclocked to 667 and CAS 5 will be more stable than stock 667Mhz RAM ? How much difference does the CAS LAtency make anyway between 5 and 6?

 

You are not really going to notice the difference as OS will cover all those memory errors. If the price is same I would any day go for 800Mhz.

Oh... I already have 800Mhz in my m15x as that time it was cheaper than 667Mhz.

 

Just ordered the 667 one!

 

Kind of... a bit of a stretch though imo.

It's more like. The ram is going to perform as well as any other 4GB stick would perform, not better even though it is 800mhz. The speed of ram does not matter a whole lot though. Tests have shown that a lot of programs really aren't taking advantage of 800mhz ram (especially games).