Should i change my memory for faster examples?

At the moment i am running x2 Samsung pc3200 512mb and i was wondering if it would be worth my while to change over to faster 2GB of OCZ or Corsair. I can install DDR 333/400 modules on the DDR DIMM slots. Whatever is best 2x 1GB or 4x 512mb thanks i am quite new baire with me please. I mainly use my PC for gaming. or just keep to what i have got :?

If memory timings are not an issue (it makes a little difference, but not much) then you may be able to use 2 x 1 GB, and 2 x 512 MB PC3200 for 3 GB DDR-SDRAM while staying in Dual-Channel mode anyway.

Using 4 ranks (not banks, not number of sticks, etc) of RAM on an AMD Athlon 64 / Opteron usually increases the memory controller (intregrated on CPU) from 1T to 2T Cmd Rate aswell, esp at PC3200 timings. (Well documented on AMD website, less of an issue with Opteron rev 'CG' and above though).

Performance won't drop very much using 2T anyway, even combined with the slower timings of the Samsungs sticks,... and you'll have 3x the RAM to play with.

Or are you talking about 2 x 2 GB sticks ?, in which case most the above still applies, just the memory count will rise.

What RAM would you reconmend?

Im always been a Corsair guy when it comes to memory. 2 Gb of Corair XMS series would definitely increase your pc's performance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145503

Don't use the the samsung memory along side with the new ones to make 3 gb, it will just slow down the faster memory module. 2gb should be fine.

How do you know the OCZ, Corsair, G.Skill, Geil Ultra, etc has faster timings ?

Do you know the timings of your Samsung ?
SiSoft SANDRA can find them, or look in BIOS perhaps ?

G.Skill (for example) actually use Samsung chips in some of their RAM, it is just rebadged, heatsink fitted, and sold at an inflated price.

Not that G.Skill don't make some kick ass products or anything, just an example, as you've stated you already have Samsung DDR-SDRAM PC3200 sticks.

Investing big dollars in more memory may not be a wise idea in the long run, as DDR2 will be the 'lowest common denominator' type of RAM within 6-9 months by the look of it, for both AMD and Intel.

Saying not to pair rebadged Samsung, with Samsung, because the timings 'might' rise (we don't know them yet do we ?), is just folly. , he can run Dual-Channel using both, and all the extra memory will be used by the OS as a disk cache. Which will make a tangable difference in performance.

Save your money and just add another 2 x 512 MB or 2 x 1024 MB PC3200 Samsung sticks. (Same as what you have now). - It is just common sense.. Unless you're a hardcore upgrader, gamer and 'need' the extra 1-2% performance of low timing memory, which currently costs significantly more because 'people are willing to pay it'.

Low timing memory used to only cost a little more, until this huge hardcore market took off and they noticed they could make 'free money' with it.

Surely TomsHardware, XbitLabs, Anandtech, or others have articiles showing the minimal justification of getting 'hardcore RAM' now that it costs so much more.