New RAM?

[Pedsdude]

I've been considering upgrading my PC for a while, and given that Christmas is coming up it seems like a good time to do so!

I'm not great with hardware, so I thought I'd be best off posting asking for advice here. Here's my current specs:

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Processor:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz

Memory:
2046MB RAM

Hard Drive:
500 GB

Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275

Operating System:
Windows Vistaâ„¢ Ultimate (32-bit)

Motherboard:
ASUS P5W DH Deluxe

Computer Case:
Antec P180 Advanced Super Steel Mid Tower ATX Case

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My computer can be a bit slow at times, especially when loading games such as Black Ops and StarCraft 2. I was thinking that upgrading my RAM from 2 GB to 4 or maybe even 8 GB would have a reasonable effect for a reasonable price. Can anyone confirm this or offer other suggestions as to where to upgrade? I might be tempted to go quad core, but it depends on the price really.

[IzNoGoD]

1. Upgrade ram to 4 gig max, 8 gig is overkill
2. get a ssd, it rly helps loading times
3. upgrade cpu, might need ddr3 instead of ddr2, see point 1.

[Pedsdude]

2. get a ssd, it rly helps loading times

Given that I've had problems with new hard drives overheating in the past, I don't want to risk changing my current drive setup.

Consider a win7 upgrade also tbh....

Would that really help performance that much? I much prefer the look of Vista to Windows 7, so I'm reluctant to upgrade. Plus, don't you have to backup your files as it reformats your PC? I don't have anywhere to conveniently store a backup of my entire PC.

[The President]

You'll be wanting 64bit Windows also if you're getting more than 3GB ram.

[Shinryu]

4 GB always worked best for me.

It kind of feels embarrassing to have anything below a 1 TB in this day and age. I'm still stuck with a pair of 350 GBs to work with. My PC is barely alive... it's got some horrible and incurable viruses, only about 20 GB of HDD space left. On top of that I can't hit 500 FPS on CoD4 anymore.

[Oi!mel]

More RAM will help much, but I'd buy a complete new PC.

[Pedsdude]

4 GB always worked best for me.

It kind of feels embarrassing to have anything below a 1 TB in this day and age. I'm still stuck with a pair of 350 GBs to work with. My PC is barely alive... it's got some horrible and incurable viruses, only about 20 GB of HDD space left. On top of that I can't hit 500 FPS on CoD4 anymore.

Twice I've bought a second hard drive (500 GB the first time, 1 TB the second time), and both times within about a month of use they had broken, presumably due to overheating. I'd be really paranoid if I got a new one, unless it was entirely replacing my current one

[ultralala]

Processor:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz

Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275

Your CPU is too slow for your GFX. A ~X4 920 / Q9550 is recommended for a 275.
I upgraded my GFX in the past and wondered why i had the same framerates as before. So i bought a new CPU and got 400 FPS more.
Heres a list with recommendations which CPU fits which GFX http://www.3dchip.de/Grafikchipliste/Leistung_Graka.htm

the price for a q9550 is around 200€. One for 130€ would do it too(Core2quad @2,66Ghz)

[Drofder2004]

New Processor (Nothing less than Quad)
More Ram (Nothing less than 4Gb)
Upgrade to Windows7. (lol @ Vista)

In regards to SSD's -

960Gb SSD - £2117.21
1Tb HDD - £39.99

About a 6000% mark up. Well worth the money >.>

SSD is for 'special' computers, not home gaming rigs...

[Drofder2004]

Didn't bother checking the Mobo tbh.
But yes, I would suggest a total overhaul.


Oh, Peds. I can do short-term loans of up to £1000 at a very reasonable offer?
Typical 1999% APR - Cheapest online! - Maximum 20 days.

[[SoE]_Zaitsev]

Does more RAM help increase loading times because mine usually load slowly aswell.

[Drofder2004]

Does more RAM help increase loading times because mine usually load slowly aswell.

Yes and No.

More RAM = More potential load
Faster RAM = Quicker read memory.