What RAM should I upgrade to?

WizardKing · 05-23-2009, 02:47 AM

I recently purchased a new pre-built system from ebay. Specs as follows:

AMD Phenom X4 9550
4BG RAM, PC2-5300 333MHz (cheap, generic brand)
BIOSTAR N61PB-M2S
GeForce 9500GT

In theory, my system should be able to run most of the new games at relatively high settings. In practice, certain games, such as CoD Modern Warfare, have to be played at relatively low settings (1024x768). Even then it performs badly. I was looking forward to playing the newer games on full settings on my 32" flatscreen. Bah.

Before you ask, yes, I have updated all drivers and everything else.

Two questions:

1. Is the motherboard bottlenecking the graphics card/CPU?

2. What RAM should I upgrade to?

Thanks muchly for any help!

makinu1der2 · 05-23-2009, 10:00 AM

Hello WizardKing,

What is the brand and wattage of the PSU?

List the temps and voltage from the BIOS.

HD_Monkey · 05-23-2009, 01:32 PM

As for the ram question. I use these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227267 and they look to be compatible with your board. I have overclocked them to 1000mhz without issues.

Not sure exactly what your expectations are as far as gaming performance. That card, while decent, is not going to allow you to play the newest games at high settings. I doubt you will see the performance you are looking for with a ram upgrade.

dai · 05-24-2009, 01:35 AM

keep to the posters problem

posting the specs without the psu details renders them useless

any repeat of the deleted posts from anyone will draw a flaming infraction

WizardKing · 05-24-2009, 12:34 PM

Hey guys and thanks for replying.

How do I find out the brand/wattage of the PSU?

Quote:

Not sure exactly what your expectations are as far as gaming performance. That card, while decent, is not going to allow you to play the newest games at high settings. I doubt you will see the performance you are looking for with a ram upgrade.

Sure, but I should be able to play games that are two years old at the highest settings. CoD Modern Warfare being a prime example.

Did I just waste £400?

makinu1der2 · 05-24-2009, 01:26 PM

You can open the case and look on the label on the side of the PSU

WizardKing · 05-28-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makinu1der2

You can open the case and look on the label on the side of the PSU

It's an EZcool 700W. I didn't know how to find the temps and voltage from the BIOS. I had a look in the CMOS but didn't really know what I was looking for.

05-23-2009, 02:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
WizardKing Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK Posts: 45 OS: XP pro My System	What RAM should I upgrade to? I recently purchased a new pre-built system from ebay. Specs as follows: AMD Phenom X4 9550 4BG RAM, PC2-5300 333MHz (cheap, generic brand) BIOSTAR N61PB-M2S GeForce 9500GT In theory, my system should be able to run most of the new games at relatively high settings. In practice, certain games, such as CoD Modern Warfare, have to be played at relatively low settings (1024x768). Even then it performs badly. I was looking forward to playing the newer games on full settings on my 32" flatscreen. Bah. Before you ask, yes, I have updated all drivers and everything else. Two questions: 1. Is the motherboard bottlenecking the graphics card/CPU? 2. What RAM should I upgrade to? Thanks muchly for any help!

05-23-2009, 10:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
makinu1der2 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,044 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1,Win XP SP3,Ubuntu 9.04,Sabayon 4,Windows 7 RC1 x64 My System	Re: What RAM should I upgrade to? Hello WizardKing, What is the brand and wattage of the PSU? List the temps and voltage from the BIOS. __________________ "The dumbest people I know are those who know it all."

05-23-2009, 01:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
HD_Monkey Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 367 OS: XP x64 SP2 My System	Re: What RAM should I upgrade to? As for the ram question. I use these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227267 and they look to be compatible with your board. I have overclocked them to 1000mhz without issues. Not sure exactly what your expectations are as far as gaming performance. That card, while decent, is not going to allow you to play the newest games at high settings. I doubt you will see the performance you are looking for with a ram upgrade.

05-24-2009, 01:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,753 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: What RAM should I upgrade to? keep to the posters problem posting the specs without the psu details renders them useless any repeat of the deleted posts from anyone will draw a flaming infraction __________________

05-24-2009, 01:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
makinu1der2 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,044 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1,Win XP SP3,Ubuntu 9.04,Sabayon 4,Windows 7 RC1 x64 My System	Re: What RAM should I upgrade to? You can open the case and look on the label on the side of the PSU __________________ "The dumbest people I know are those who know it all."