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    RAM or HDD Upgrade for performance increase?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Arkaros, Dec 25, 2008.

  1. Arkaros

    Arkaros Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys. So what with owning GTA IV now, I thought I would upgrade a component which may increase performance in the game (+ possibly others) which would you recommend I upgrade first?

    I know the performance increase is pretty negligible, but it's a good idea anyway so :)

    Current specs of those components

    * 2 GB 667 MHZ DDR2 Ram.

    * 160 GB 5400 RPM Hitachi Something.
     
    Arkaros, Dec 25, 2008
    #1
  2. CooLMinE

    CooLMinE Notebook Deity

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    Upgrading the ram OR the hdd will basically make no difference for you in GTA IV since the game is most cpu/gpu dependant. So even if you upgrade one of those dont expect anything more than 1-2 fps at max.

    To answer your question, if you are on Vista go for the ram, athough have in mind that if you are running Vista 32bit you will only gain 1gb more instead of 2 (if you go for a 2gb stick).
     
    CooLMinE, Dec 25, 2008
    #2
  3. Melody

    Melody How's It Made Addict

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    Yeah GTA4 was surprisingly more CPU stressing than many were expecting so an upgrade in CPU or GPU(if possible for either one since GPUs are rarely upgradeable) would be the one which yield a significant performance increase.

    But if you have to chose between those 2 things I'd say upgrade the RAM. Perhaps 3Gb at 800MHz or something of the like.
     
    Melody, Dec 25, 2008
    #3
  4. Arkaros

    Arkaros Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm on Vista x64, so I think it should recognise the full 4 GB. I already get 30 fps on the benchmark on lowest, I just thought more RAM might help the occasional stuttering when it has to load an area when moving fast (across a highway for example).

    Thanks for your help!
     
    Arkaros, Dec 25, 2008
    #4
  5. CooLMinE

    CooLMinE Notebook Deity

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    At the moment the max usage of ram i managed on my rig was 2.5gb.
     
    CooLMinE, Dec 25, 2008
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  6. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

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    Well, that has to do more with GPU. So save your money and buy a new laptop with better GPU instead.

    More ram doesn't help much if you don't use much ram, and faster HDD only good for loading apps and such.
     
    Han Bao Quan, Dec 25, 2008
    #6
  7. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    I'd bump the RAM up to 4GB, it is a very cheap and easy upgrade. I recently upgraded to 4GB from 2GB on my laptop, and while it didn't increase my FPS, it did smooth games out - there is no longer any stuttering because I'm running low on RAM.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Dec 25, 2008
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  8. aeroz

    aeroz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Go RAM, if anything its going to make a decent difference and is a better upgrade for more games. So when if you get tired of GTA you will be better off for another game.
     
    aeroz, Dec 25, 2008
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  9. Deks

    Deks Notebook Prophet

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    Ram.
    It's better to have more than less.
     
    Deks, Dec 25, 2008
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  10. Arkaros

    Arkaros Notebook Enthusiast

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    Cheers people, I bought the 2 x 2 GB kit off of Crucial website. Pretty annoying how Acer decided to put 2 x 1 GB sticks in, now I have 2 useless ram sticks!
     
    Arkaros, Dec 25, 2008
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  11. Mippoose

    Mippoose Notebook Deity

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    I just got 2x2gb of 667mhz Kingston HyperX for my laptop.

    It's in the mail, a day away!

    I also got 64bit vista ultimate for 65$. So win-win.
     
    Mippoose, Dec 25, 2008
    #11
  12. somhavoc

    somhavoc Notebook Consultant

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    seel em on Ebay ? make a bit of money :p
     
    somhavoc, Dec 30, 2008
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  13. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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    Tip: Keep the old RAM sticks as backup in case the new ones die on you.


    As for GTAIV I heard the PC version is riddled with bugs. So the best performance boost for the game will be the patch released by Rockstar.
     
    Signal2Noise, Dec 30, 2008
    #13