Additional Memory In Gaming

[Donn Ganley]

can anyone elaborate on whether an additional 128MB of memory on top of my installed 128MB's will help with increasing the Frames Per Second in game playing (sims in particular) - are there any other benefits from additional RAM when playing games? Any input appreciated! Thanks, Donn

[jonathankeeping]

FPS depends on the quality of the system as a whole. If you have a weak link in you CPU, RAM, Chipset, Video then the whole system is slowed down. 128Mb is ample for all 3D games currently out at the moment. If you were to increase the RAM to 256Mb you won't notice a difference in speed or FPS. You would notice much less jumping and stuttering though. If you are using SIMMs this indicates that your motherboard is getting slightly dated now anyway. If you which to get more FPS really you should look at your CPU and your video card. Any 400MHz with a Voodoo3 will rock at any 3D game!!!

[welsh wizard]

I'll check up on the following, but I seem to remeber reading some where that you can get to a point where additional memory can start slowing things down, not sure if it was on Kingston site or one off the other memory manufacturers site's, if I can find it again will post it back to you.

[socalgal]

welsh wizard - *wondering* wasn't that for something like over 256mgs? I've heard that too...

[AuraEdge]

I usta run on 192 RAM, but loaned out my 64 stick to my friend for 2 weeks, as a temporary til he got his new RAM. I have noticed games are alot choppier with 128 RAM instead of 196. (not unreal or anything...halflife and Q3test).

[BBA]

welsh wizard, Having more than 64M of ram used to be a detriment/benefit arrangement for the VX and TX Intel chipsets, as they only could cache that much, but it was still neccessary to go over that amount to stop drive thrashing.

With P2 and later, this problem with caching is solved. The P3 and most P2's can cache 4G of ram (Enough???)

BBA

[welsh wizard]

Donn
bit old hat but might be worth visit depending on system you have
http://www.kingston.com/tools/umg/umg-en.pdf I know its a bit basic but there are some memory recommends for different uses, I can't find where I read info on to much slowing things down, but other members seem to have covered that. /forum/smile.gif

[ZOOTMAN]

also a two part article at agn hardware on the benefits of more ram. www.agnhardware.com (http://www.agnhardware.com) look under reviews. article is on 64mb vs.128mb but might be some help.

[This message has been edited by ZOOTMAN (edited 09-05-99).]