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by kal_lmn

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My girlfriend just bought me some more RAM for my computer (4GB DDR3 1600 2 X 2GB) but I previously had 4GB DDR3 1333 (2 X 2GB) already. Basically, I want to know which setup is best for gaming. I previously looked up this question and found many similar questions, but most were about completely changing out their RAM, whereas I want to know if using ALL of my sticks (8GB @ 1333) or just plain 4GB of 1600 would be best. I am using an EVGA 790i FTW motherboard, just to let you know.

4 replies

by oh smeg

All 32 Bit OS's can not recognize more than somewhere around 3.25 GIG of RAM and this is Total System RAM including Video RAM.

So if you have a 32 Bit OS while you may be able to fit the 8 GIG it's not all going to be used even if you are using Vista 32 Bit which has been engineered to lie to you. While it may report all of the fitted RAM it can not use any more than the 3.25 GIG Upper Limit imposed by all 32 Bit OS's

Realistically even then depending on the chip set of the M'Board the OS may not be able to recognize that amount. It all depends on how the hardware addresses the RAM.

If you have a 64 Bit OS you will have to look at the M'Boards RAM Support List to see if you can use the RAM that you currently have. Some NVidia M'Boards are fussy on the RAM that they use when all 4 RAM Slots are populated. ;)

Col

by kal_lmn

Nah, they all seem to work just fine and in any combination with each other as well. My computer states that I have 8GB of RAM, and allocates it among processes (I used several high RAM cost programs at once). I am currently using windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit. I basically just want to know the most efficient combination I could use, as stated, all RAM sticks work in any combination with each other, I just want to know if I should run 4GB of 1600 RAM only, or add the extra 4GB of 1333 RAm in addition to the other 4GB for best performance.

by bithammertech

Unless you heavily multi-task while you are gaming you would probably be better off with the 4GB @ 1600

No games out today will push you past 4 GB of RAM usage. Unless you have a lot of other stuff going on in the background you just won't see any benefit to your gaming from doubling the RAM to 8 GB. In fact you will have to run the non-matched 8 GB at a slower speed as you noted so if max FPS is your goal 4 GB @ 1600 would be your best bet

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