RAM

[edwardsw 0]

Originally posted by: tungston It depends on the motherboard how much memory you can install, newer boards 8GB DDR2, but still Windoww 32 bit will only recognize roughly 3.5GB including the video memory.quote>

 

So it would be pointless to install 8GB, is that correct? 

north country dude: That's a good point, I will be sure to check.

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: edwardsw So it would be pointless to install 8GB, is that correct?quote>

 

That's true with a 32 bit OS.

[Darth Apple 54]

edwardsw:but many have had problems with running sc4 on 64 bit operating systems , I wouldn't upgrade to 64 bit if I were you (just to be safe)like tungston said , simcity can rarely use more than 1GB , so there really isn't much of a use.

also , I run on integrated graphics , and as long as my graphics settings are low - it works fine(I got away with using medium texture quality)so I don't really think you will need like a gigabyte of graphics memory(I have no idea how sc4 would use it!)

oh... and all you have to do to add ram is stick the right kind of memory in your computers slot... crucial.com may be helpful in determining what kind you have(or at least I think.)when sticking it in , just remember , it takes quite a lot of force to push it in.

Hope this helps.

[Goldfish4209 9]

I'm running vista 64 with 4GB of DDR2 and 512Mb on my 3870. SC4 runs fine, except when I'm planting a ton of trees, but I guess nobody's rig can run that at full speed.

SC4 is pretty much fully fed, but 3ds max still won't run without a pagefile. Oh well.

[edwardsw 0]

Okay so I have been doing some research and I think I am almost ready (you probably thought I'd already bought it).  So here's a quick summary of everything.

I currently have:

- Windows XP SP3 32bit,

- 512MB DDR RAM, 400MHz, PC3200, CL3

- Graphics card - 256MB

I plan to upgrade my 512MB RAM to 2GB using two 1GB DDR sticks. I understand that there are three types of RAM - DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 - and that I can only use DDR RAM on my motherboard. However what does '400MHz, PC3200, CL3' mean and will my new sticks of RAM need to be that as well?

Thanks for all your support!

[City2TheMax 3]

Originally posted by: edwardsw

I plan to upgrade my 512MB RAM to 2GB using two 1GB DDR sticks. I understand that there are three types of RAM - DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 - and that I can only use DDR RAM on my motherboard. However what does '400MHz, PC3200, CL3' mean and will my new sticks of RAM need to be that as well?

Thanks for all your support!quote>

Are you replacing the old RAM, or are you adding the 2GB to it (to make it 2.5GB)?

So, I'm assuming your motherboard is dual-channel, right? Meaning that the 512MB you already have is split up into two-256MB cards. If you're not sure about this, simply look into your computer and look to see if you have 2 RAM cards or simply one. This is important to know, because not installing the RAM properly into the channels will prevent them from working.

For installing RAM into a dual-channel system, make sure the higher RAM is closer to the motherboard than the lower RAM. Meaning your 1GB cards will be on the closer side of the motherboard, and the 256 cards are on the far side. However, you must have 1 card of the same RAM in each channel. So you can't put the 1GB cards together, one card needs to be in each channel. Here's a picture (imagine you're looking at your motherboard from the top):

channel 1: (256MB RAM)(1GB RAM) // channel2: (256MB RAM)(1GB RAM) // (Motherboard)

400MHz is the speed of your RAM. This is another important thing to know: Your new RAM has to be at a higher speed than your previous RAM. So for example if your previous RAM had a speed of 400MHz, then your new RAM has to have a speed of 400MHz+, or it will not function properly.

[edwardsw 0]

I have two slots on the motherboard and one is taken by a 512MB stick (came with the PC) so I plan to replace it with two 1GB sticks.

Plus I don't think you can get DDR higher than 400MHz.

[City2TheMax 3]

Originally posted by: edwardsw

I have two slots on the motherboard and one is taken by a 512MB stick (came with the PC) so I plan to replace it with two 1GB sticks.

Plus I don't think you can get DDR higher than 400MHz.quote>

Ok, so you don't have to worry about dual-channel then. And I think you're right about the DDR speed, I added 400MHz cards to my computer recently and it works fine. So I think you're all set! From the numbers you were talking about earlier, only the speed matters; the other numbers are just the model of the RAM card.

Your computer should immediately recognize the new RAM, but there are never guarantees. If you're computer keeps crashing, that means you might have faulty memory (that's what happened to me). If that happens, put the old RAM in and see if the computer works again. Then just get the new RAM replaced. Just a heads up

[edwardsw 0]

Okay thankyou. So you say that the CL number and the PC number isn't important.

Out of curiosity, I am now wondering what the difference is between theses two:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/66405

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/94625

What makes the prices so different?

(is it that blue bit? - is that what they call a Heat Sink?)

[City2TheMax 3]

Well as far as I know, the PC number doesn't make a difference (it didn't for me).

the CL number is the clock-cycle. That means that CL2 requires only 2 clocks to send data, and CL3 requires 3 clocks. It is a matter of preference; if you want your RAM to work a little faster get a CL2, but it is more expensive. That is the difference between those two cards.

[edwardsw 0]

Ahh ok thankyou very much!

[City2TheMax 3]

you're welcome! Good luck with the new RAM.

[Cob92 360]

2GB of RAM here. But I can remember the days on my parents' old computer back in 2003 with 256MB RAM. Simply terrible performance.

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: edwardsw

Okay thankyou. So you say that the CL number and the PC number isn't important.

Out of curiosity, I am now wondering what the difference is between theses two:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/66405

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/94625

What makes the prices so different?

(is it that blue bit? - is that what they call a Heat Sink?)quote>

You really should buy DDR memory in matched sets.

[edwardsw 0]

(Sorry, i'm a complete novice) what do you mean by 'You really should buy DDR memory in matched sets' ? do you mean that my two sticks of Ram should be the same brand and specifications? 

If so I was planning to do that anyway, I was just curious what the difference was between the two.

Also - does that blue bit on this stick (which I think is called a heat sink) make much of a difference or is that the reason it is a CL2 instead of a CL3?

[Bones1 96]

Originally posted by: edwardsw

Okay so I have been doing some research and I think I am almost ready (you probably thought I'd already bought it).  So here's a quick summary of everything.

I currently have:

- Windows XP SP3 32bit,

- 512MB DDR RAM, 400MHz, PC3200, CL3

- Graphics card - 256MB

I plan to upgrade my 512MB RAM to 2GB using two 1GB DDR sticks. I understand that there are three types of RAM - DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 - and that I can only use DDR RAM on my motherboard. However what does '400MHz, PC3200, CL3' mean and will my new sticks of RAM need to be that as well?

Thanks for all your support!quote>

Once you upgrade to 2GB of RAM, you're good to go with Simcity 4 on max settings. A 256MB video card, even a cheap one, is fine with Simcity 4. The only bottleneck will be CPU with very large cities. But that's not really an issue unless you've got the speed setting set to the maximum (i.e., trying to make time go quickly).

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: edwardsw

(Sorry, i'm a complete novice) what do you mean by 'You really should buy DDR memory in matched sets' ? do you mean that my two sticks of Ram should be the same brand and specifications? 

If so I was planning to do that anyway, I was just curious what the difference was between the two.

Also - does that blue bit on this stick (which I think is called a heat sink) make much of a difference or is that the reason it is a CL2 instead of a CL3?quote>

DDR memory are sold in "sets", i.e., a 2GB set would have two 1GB modules.  They are matched by production run, etc.

The blue covering is a heat exchanger, usually used on high performance memory.  Unless you plan on doing some serious overclocking, save your money that you would spend extra on high performance memory.

[edwardsw 0]

Oh I see, thank you.

So for example it would be better to buy something like:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/55295

as opposed to buying two of:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/55296

despite them both having the same specs? (or have I missed the point again? - sorry)

(Thanks for the tip about the heat exchanger too)

 

[City2TheMax 3]

no, you can use both of your options(I'm sure). Just don't mix brands, it'd be best to have two of the same brand and type

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: edwardsw

Oh I see, thank you.

So for example it would be better to buy something like:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/55295

as opposed to buying two of:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/55296

despite them both having the same specs? (or have I missed the point again? - sorry)

(Thanks for the tip about the heat exchanger too)

 quote>

Yes, it is always reccomended to buy DDR memory in matched sets, to avoid the possibility of manufacturing differences.

 

[Bones1 96]

Originally posted by: tungston

Yes, it is always reccomended to buy DDR memory in matched sets, to avoid the possibility of manufacturing differences.

 quote>

I'm using 3 different DDR modules in my PC, all from different manufactures. 2 512MB and 1 1GB module. They work fine. I think the warning about matching manufactures are overblown. Your PC should even be able to handle different speeds! (Using the speed of the lowest speed module, of course.)

[tungston 19]

Bones, they might be working fine, but they are not working in Double Data Rate. For DDR to work you need the same size, and speed modules in each channel. If you have only one module in a channel then you don't get the advantage of the DDR.