OK, so here's the deal:

I want to upgrade my PC a little, would you recommend upgrading RAM or Video card first?

My specs:

AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 2100MHz
Memory: 512RAM (61% used when logged to the internet)
Mainboard: nVidia-nForce
Videocard: GeForceFX 5500

As you can see, it's not that new and RAM is eaten BIGTIME, I would want to try and get a 1024 stick
"Apacer DDR 1024MB PC3200 400MHz Apacer AM1 73.06399.91G", but it costs 300lt, so that's a bit much about 100 bucks or more.
BTW, which of these would be better than my FX and best of all? :

Gigabyte GeForce 7300 GS 128MB 64bit DDRII (TC to 256MB) DVI+HDTV PCI Express 24995
-
Point-of-View GeForce 7300GS 256MB DDR2 TV+DVI PCI Express 25995
-
MSI SVGA MSI GeForce 7300GS 256MB DDR2 TV+DVI PCI Express

Any other ideas? :blink:

More RAM will give you an overall system speed boost. Getting a 'bigger' video-card will only give you more game-speed.

Edit: I would say that $100 for 1024 mb RAM is a pretty standard price, allthough you might find it cheaper if you look around a bit and order online.

So more RAM would speed up the whole PC and games, and the GC would just boost performance on games? I might consider getting them both (begging for them is an option, cause it's my birthday soon :) ). There is a problem, however. I have 512RAM DUAL, that means 256x2 sticks and if I buy a 512 it would mean only 768RAM, cause I think there are only 2 slots in my PC (can there be more? :blink: ) and I would have to unhook one of'em. But sacrificing a 256 stick for a 1024 would be great. Any chance there could be 3 slots for RAM? Or is 2 a standard here? :blink: Cause if there would be 3 - then 1.5GB RAM. It'd be armaggedon... :angel:

Well, both the
"Point-of-View GeForce 7300GS 256MB DDR2 TV+DVI PCI Express 25995"
AND
"MSI SVGA MSI GeForce 7300GS 256MB DDR2 TV+DVI PCI Express"
separately cost 100-110 bucks, so if I would get those RAM and either of these two - would I see a better gaming hour? :blink:

more brains LOL

^^intelligent.
I'd say, upgrade RAM. How many slots do you have? I would get an extra 1GB stick.
If the RAM is 61% used, it may be time. Do you play online a lot?

Well, not that much but there are a few games I do play online - like CS.
I probably will get the 1024 and see if it is enough.

BTW, WT, get the F*CK out of here - noone needs you here so scram. :whistle:

Sure there can be more then 2. My mainboard has four slots for example. You should open your case to see how many you have :)

A new video-card will (probably) have more and better hardware support for Directx and will perform faster for games that use that (most Windows games that is). Combined with a RAM-boost you're sure as h@ll going to see the speed of all your computing (and thus also your gaming increase). I can't give a guess as to how many but you'll notice :ok:

in my opinion you will need new mainboard with ram... man nForce1... -giggles-
and if you dont want to spend lots of money for ram, i recommend you to buy SAME ram as first an stick it in to dual DDR but iam not sure that your main board has it
i think that you wont need 1536 ram unless Longhorn will come out

edint: o, yeah and rams in dual ddr are much faster then 2 different

Oopsey, it's really a "Biostar M7NCD Pro" in other words "NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400/ MCP". Sorry for that glitch...
So it should be capable for doing the job, quote:

"AMD Athlon XP up to 3200+ , Athlon and Duron Processor".

I don't think I should change it, but just replace maybe both of the RAM chips and put the 1GB one in.

P.S. You mean to tell me that a 1GBRAM chip and 256mbRAM chip combination would work less effective than two 512's??? :blink: No way is this right, man... :eeeeeh:

#2 P.S. So I should just find the same brand RAM of 1024mb and then I'd only have to replace one chip? Is that what you meant? :blink:

I also read this:

MEMORY:

Maximum 3.0 GB
3 x 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM
Dual Channel DDR 200/266/333/400(See Dual Channel Guidelines)

So this means I have 3 slots, right? :) Wooohaaa, now to just find a fitting chip... hehehe :twisted:

Use 3 1 gb sticks speed baby speed and when vista comes out no need to upgrade.

LOL

Nah just joking it would not be worth it yet.

opps posted twice

I know you didn't mean it for real, 1GB + 512 will fit me nicely, thanks Win98.

i mean that two same 512 in DUAL DDR will work much faster then 1 1024, idk about "exact" speed but i think it will equal 1gb+256

i mean that you should buy next(same as 1st) 512 ram if yuo have dual ddr slot on your mainboard

i mean that two same 512 in DUAL DDR will work much faster then 1 1024, idk about "exact" speed but i think it will equal 1gb+256

i mean that you should buy next(same as 1st) 512 ram if yuo have dual ddr slot on your mainboard [/b][/quote]
Oh, I know that DUALs work better, but you suggest to put another 512 and it will only make 1024 by all the 3 chips. I'll take my chances and see how well 1024+256x2 DUALs work together. This could just make the Duals run all the way and then really FIRE it up when the 1024 is needed, making a beast out of the machine.

The mainboard has 3 slots, now functioning the 2 of 3 with DUALs 256 (brand "PQI" - very cheap crud), so a new "Apacer 1024mb" or "Geil 1024" for about 110 bucks will really make a difference in this struggle for decent game frames (maybe 30-35).

but you ahve wrote that you own 512 ram already :blink: so you want to buy 2x256 and 1 gb?orrr

but you ahve wrote that you own 512 ram already :blink: so you want to buy 2x256 and 1 gb?orrr [/b][/quote]
I must've confused you:

I have 512, but it's a DUAL (256x2) in two sticks. I think that clears things up, don't you think? :D
Now, I will buy a 1024Ram stick. I will combine the power of my "PQI" brand duals with a new "Apacer" or "Geil" brand 1024Ram stick. Which do you think is better? The "Apacer" or "Geil"? "Geil" is like 5-10 bucks more, but seems to be more trusted. What do you think? :blink:

apacers are realy good and respected by many users , i have never heard of Geil o_O and its strange for me that it is 5-10 bucks more

if i were you i would buy apacer

Well, price IS an issue - OK, Apacer it is. :ok:

I always wondered whether 2GB ECC RAM or 3GB non-ECC RAM would be better...

I have Four :tomato: ................YES i have a new Pc i just like bragging about it :tomato:

If you want to Bragg about it make your own topic.

no that's gay!

Okay I rekon we better get back on topic . If u think it is right okay then in some cases it is not worth starting a new bragging topic but bragging goes in blah blah blah unless it is acompanyied with a problem.

Yarr, get back to the original topic, please.

I wonder how troop18546 got on getting the ram.

I had an fx 5500 pci (not express...laugh now) and upgraded to an msi Radeon 1600 for like $130 and it kicks arse I tell you compared to fx5500. DEfinetly go for the Video card first

For ym vidoe card I still use onboard graphics but I am upgrading soon.

Well, I will probably get the money back for the RAM only on May, perhaps, cause I have a little finance problem to get them on April 11th. Sad, but it's not the end of the world. Maybe I will get even more hardware by then :D .

Sax Machine, I'm aware that my video card is cruddy, but there ain't no alternative for me right now, btw, my alternative would be very pricy, so "no go"...

Thats a shame about finances.

you want to say that its shame to not to have a money
-glares at win98- :angry:

What I only get 5 buck a week pocket money my currency which is new zealand dollars it is not much in the computer world and I am 13.

the fact that he has no money is not shame, there are more important things than computer ram for better gaming experience

Exactly the more importants things are like the games themselve's the better the game the more it is worth every dollar.

^ Ahem... :whistle:

The truth is I don't get pocket money at all, BTW now - I'm BROKE. :cry:
A very good argument to your last post, win98:

A new game's playability is screwed up because of a lame PC, so there.

Don't worry - the money will come back, maybe my bro will get me something from the US by his way back. A new GeForce 7800GTX maybe??? :D

Well I for one find that games are the best thing but somtimes you need to lay money down to make your pc run them well.