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6GB vs. 9GB

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - 6GB vs. 9GB

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I currently have an i7 system with 3GB (3x1GB) of DDR3 ram installed running on windows 7 64-bit RC. I am planning on buying a 6GB (3x2GB) memory kit and am wondering if it would be better to add the 3 sticks of 2GB to my current 3 sticks of 1GB to make a total of 9GB of ram or just replace the current ram with the new memory and leave 3 sticks of 2GB for a total of 6GB.

Core specs:
Intel Core i7 920 @ 3000 MHz O.C.
ASUS P6T
Corsair XMS3 3GB (3x1GB) DDR3-1333

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How much memory do you have now? and how full do you keep it?

Basically, as long as you have 'More Than Enough', then adding to it doesn't get you much in the way of performance. Except there's more memory for Windows to cache into.

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Reply to Scotteq

I currently have 3GB of ram and it idles at about 900mb-1.2gb usage and in games spikes to around 1.6-2.1gb of usage

Reply to ehanger

For a single game or task, 6gb is plenty. If you do lots of multitasking, then more is better.
For 6gb, you really could do either, whichever is cheaper. I think I would get a 6gb kit, and sell the 3gb kit on e-bay. From an OC point of view, 3 sticks should put less load on the mobo and make it easier to OC.

You might find thid 3gb vs. 6gb study from Corsair interesting:
http://www.corsair.com/_appnotes/A [...] vs_3GB.PDF

Message edited by geofelt on 05-22-2009 at 10:04:56 PM

Reply to geofelt

If running 6 modules does not limit your OC, then there is no harm in running it since you have it. However, the ideal setup with what you have is probably the 3 x 2GB and find another use for or sell the 3 x 1GB.

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Reply to XMSYellowbeard

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