RAM Questions

[ndraves]

Just wanting to check a few things out. Currently using the 2010 MP 8-core and recently I have noticed that the Page in/out on the system memory in activity monitor have just been getting larger and larger.

I take it this is a good sign that I need more RAM. My system spec is:
2010 MP, 2x2.4GHz
6GB stock RAM
2xHD 5770, driving 1x27"ACD + 2x23"ACD

So my questions are:

1. What config would be a good option, I was thinking about a pair of 4GB sticks to go 1 on each side with the 3x1GB already there

2. Are there any big differences between brands of RAM, I was think about Crucial, the pair of 4GB is £119 (I'm in the UK) which seems reasonable

Anyway just wondering what your thought were?

 

[philipma1957]

crucial and micron are one in the same.

hynix chips are good

samsung chips are good

all are korean based chip makers

the chips can be in different names like supertalent or owc.

here in the states you can buy 12gb (3 sticks of 4gb each )of supertalent( with hynix chips) for around 140 usd, but you have uk prices i don't know them as well .

Stay away from sticks that have v in them kingston value ram comes to mind

 

[sash]

Last years I’ve been buying OWC RAM — no single problem, even though I live in Belgium and not in the US (possible transportation issues etc.). Smooth service, quality stuff.

 

[Umbongo]

crucial and micron are one in the same.

hynix chips are good

samsung chips are good

all are korean based chip makers

the chips can be in different names like supertalent or owc.

here in the states you can buy 12gb (3 sticks of 4gb each )of supertalent( with hynix chips) for around 140 usd, but you have uk prices i don't know them as well .

Stay away from sticks that have v in them kingston value ram comes to mind

Micron/Crucial are American

ndraves: Crucial is a great brand to buy from in the UK. They are probably the best direct memory provider available.

 

[ndraves]

Also any thoughts on the 4, 1, 1, 1GB setup on each side?

This should give me 14GB total until I have extra cash to get more 4GB sticks, and I get the impression that quantity gives a better increase in performance than matched pairs/triplets for 99% of tasks?

 

[ndraves]

ndraves: Crucial is a great brand to buy from in the UK. They are probably the best direct memory provider available.

Cheers for that. They seem to be good price too.

 

[kellen]

Also any thoughts on the 4, 1, 1, 1GB setup on each side?

This should give me 14GB total until I have extra cash to get more 4GB sticks, and I get the impression that quantity gives a better increase in performance than matched pairs/triplets for 99% of tasks?

That should work fine. Always go for more ram if you need it then trying to stick to triple channeling the memory.

 

[Umbongo]

Also any thoughts on the 4, 1, 1, 1GB setup on each side?

This should give me 14GB total until I have extra cash to get more 4GB sticks, and I get the impression that quantity gives a better increase in performance than matched pairs/triplets for 99% of tasks?

Yeah capacity is much better than speed if you are getting page outs. You are basically losing triple channel performance and you would have more memory assigned to two slots than the others. Optimal memory performance is about balance. But real world performance difference? Probably none.

Consider though that you will have faster memory access than even the most optimal of configurations on computers produced before this current generation of processors. Not something to really worry about.

Cheers for that. They seem to be good price too.

Yeah Crucial's prices are pretty good for the most part. When it costs more to import from somewhere like OWC or Transintl then you know it is a good price and their prices are currently like £93 + postage (excl. VAT) vs. £100 (excl. VAT)

 

[philipma1957]

Micron/Crucial are American

ndraves: Crucial is a great brand to buy from in the UK. They are probably the best direct memory provider available.

I stand corrected Crucial/Micron was found in Boise , Idaho USA. They do have a location site in Seoul South Korea hence my error. If fact they are just about all over the world.

http://www.micron.com/about/company/profile.html

this was pulled from above link.

Micron at a Glance
Founded: October 1978, Boise, ID
FY2010 Net Sales: $8.5 billion
NASDAQ Symbol: MU
Employees: ~20,000 worldwide (excludes contractors, temps, and JV employees)

Locations:

The Americas: Boise, Idaho; Folsom, California, Manassas, Virginia; Kanata, Canada; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.


EMEA: Agrate and Avezzano, Italy; East Kilbride, Scotland; Kiryat Gat, Israel; Giesshuebl, Austria; Paris, France; Munich and Berlin, Germany; Erd, Hungary; Virginia, County Cavan, Ireland.


Asia: Tokyo, Osaka, Nishiwaki, and Tsukuba, Japan; Muar, Malaysia, Singapore; Seoul, South Korea; Taipei, Taiwan; Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Fujian, China; Bangalore, India.