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Memory stripped bare

Posted on 14 Oct 2008 at 12:02

Will splashing out on expensive RAM make a real difference to PC performance? And if so, how much should you buy? Darien Graham-Smith provides the definitive answers.

According to legend, Bill Gates once concluded that "640KB of memory ought to be enough for anyone" (a legend he's at pains to repudiate). These days it takes more than 800 times that much RAM just to make Windows Vista work smoothly. But as the idea takes hold that more RAM is always good, we're increasingly seeing home systems armed with a vast 4GB of storage. Indeed, with 64-bit Vista gaining traction, we're sure the 8GB home PC can't be far away. Is there any need for this much memory, or is it a waste of money beyond a certain point?

This month we set out to discover the truth. Armed with a comprehensive set of benchmarks and a big stack of DIMMs, we've tested performance on both XP and Vista to find out how much memory you really need.

But, of course, quantity of memory isn't the only consideration. Does faster RAM make a difference? And what about issues such as latency and dual-channel architecture? Do they matter, or are they mere technical curiosities of no importance in the real world?

We'll lay the details bare, along with explanations of the difference between DDR, DDR2 and DDR3, and how to decode RAM speeds and timings. We'll even delve into the black art of memory overclocking. If you're thinking of upgrading an existing system - or building one from scratch - don't buy a DIMM until you've read this.

Author: Darien Graham-Smith