Question:
512 MB vs 1 GB
Hi. I am buying a new notebook, and I need advice on how much RAM to get. I am thinking between 2x256 MB DDR2 400 MHz and 2x512 MB DDR2 400 MHz, which costs $150 extra. Now the only use where I might need the extra RAM is gaming, which I won't have time to play a lot but when I do find time I want to have very good performance. So do you think that 512 MB satisfies the current games (even the most demanding), and how long do you think it will continue to do so? From what I know (which might not be much:)) RAM is the easiest thing to upgrade on a notebook, but since I'm getting 2 modules, it means that once I upgrade these the old ones will basically go to waste so I don't want that to be soon.
Bill
Answer:
go with 1Gb if you can afford it! Is now getting common to see desktop having so much ram! still quite rare for laptop~
Compaq Presario R3210CA with AMD Athlon-M XP2800+, 256MB DDR SODIMM 333Mhz, 40GB Fujisu, 15inch XGA TFT, NVidia GeForce 4 with 32MB
Answer:
I would get 512 from HP and buy 512 from someone else like www.crucial.com.
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Answer:
Sounds like you might be talking about the new ZD8000 series from HP (the prices you mentioned match up there). Regardless, the way I look at you have 3 options:
1) Order it with 512 (2x256) and run with that. If not acceptable, then you'll have to upgrade. Definitely a disadvantage if you decide to upgrade later. If you upgrade later you could always sell the 256 chips if you want to deal with that. If you end up selling both of the 256's later and buying 2x512 on your own, this will probably be the outright least expensive way.
2) Order it with 512 (2x256) and immediately order 1 512 chip to go with it, for a total of 768MB RAM (make sure you get the same speed and latency). The cost of 1 512 chip for regular DDR is around $80-90 at NewEgg - not sure what it is for DDR2. You'd also have 1 256 leftover chip here also.
3) Order it with the full 1GB and be done with it.
With those things considered, I would recommend you go ahead right away with the full 1GB if you can afford it. The extra $150 really isn't a whole lot considering that you are going from 512 to 1GB. The problem is if you only go with 512, you are sort of stuck in incrementally increasing memory because each chip is only 256MB. If you're an avid Ebayer and willing to sell the 256's, check out what those are going for and then weigh the cost savings compared to just initially going with the 1GB.
Answer:
i agree with apollo in the fact that $150 isnt a whole lot to spend to get the 1 gig. i would reccomend getting the upgrade right away, so as to not have to worry about it down the road. i also agree that the old ones going to waste kinda hurts, so i would again get the 1 gig right away