Building a new computer, 4 gigs vs 8 gigs ram for the peiced I already

[pickelweasel]

have?

Considering buying

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

as opposed to

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model CMD8GX3M4A1333C7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145284

Video card is
PNY XLR8 VCG98GTEE1XEB GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133304

monitor supports 1920x1080 so im hoping to run most current games on max on that resolution. Other pieces are up to standards, so if you need to know, just ask.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Vid card is irrelevant...what MoBo ? What OS ? What are you doing with it ?

The 1st set is CAS 9 (slower timings) and will limit your "guaranteed" overclocking to 1600

The 2nd set is CAS 7 (faster timings) and will limit your "guaranteed" overclocking to 1333

I'd go w/ CAS 7 (or even 6) DDR3-1600

 

[Twoboxer]

If money matters - and we can't tell any more than we know your system specs - you won't notice the difference gaming with these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

If you are OCing, things may be different.

 

[dassox]

If you are looking to do more gaming, you'd be better off going with 4GB of ram and a newer graphics if that is within your budget. The difference between prices in the 4GB and 8GB ram modules would allow you to buy a gtx 460 instead of that 9800gt.

Thats my two cents.

 

[coldsleep]

Agree with dassox. For a gaming machine, video card is much more important to run high details at 1920x1080 than more RAM. 4 GB of 1600 MHz CL7 should run about $100, like this G.Skill ECO Series kit. That's $150 saved over the Dominators, and better spec RAM than the XMS3.

For $170, you can get a 768 MB GTX 460, which will run ok at 1920x1080, if not amazing. If you haven't bought the 9800 GT yet, you're looking at about $250 (?) available to spend, which could get you a 1 GB GTX 460, a 5830, or it would be very close to a 5850.

Alternatively, if your motherboard supports SLI, you could consider getting another 9800 for the time being for around $100, and upgrade your video card(s) down the line.