Hey guys. I have a dell dimension 8200 desktop with 1gig (512 x 2) of pc800 rdram. I want to upgrade to 2 gigs ( i do alot of video editing and graphical rendering with cad programs) and i found out it will cost me $600 through dell and 4-600 anywhere else. Why is Rdram so much more expensive than DDR? my buddy told me he can get a stick of 512 for his computer (ddr) for $30. is rdram better...if not, what makes it so expensice?
Replies (11)
sounds on 04/7/2005 16:39:55
with DDR data rate transfers are 266mhz while with Rdram data rate transfers can be about 800mhz or more
Transfer rates are higher with Rdram, but they have higher lactency. They are more suited for things like gaming and video editing would do well in this category. For servers, ddr is better because of rdram's lactency.
My opinion, ddr is a better option pricewise and the lactency, i don't do video editing so in your situation it might be a good thing to use rdram
uochronos on 04/7/2005 18:33:31
ya its not better per say but it is better in certain applications.... also it is more expensive because it is rarely used in personal computers.... with 2gigs of DDR or 2gigs of RD your going to have a super fast computer either way:)
Munchiesyumm on 04/8/2005 03:01:47
Okay...
RDRAM (RAMBUS)
*the catch* PC800 800mhz RDRAM the truth TWO 400MHZ cards grouped together to creat a direct connection and run as one making 800MHZ. This is the reason why you need at least two RDRAM cards and two CRIMMS.
RDRAM has always costed more. They claim their ram is the fastest ram made so their going to charge you for it. However this isn't true anymore. DDR memory has advanced far quicker now but it's still not cheap to make these memory cards because the demand is low, and RAMBUS came close to going out of business.
First of all, you will not need 2 gigabytes. You should start with 1 gigabyte and if you still have you're memory filled up than consider an upgrade but buying more than you need is not a good idea. You can check you're memory usage by "ctrl alt del" and selecting the performance tab.
Don't buy brand new RAMBUS there isn't a point in it. Ebay sells a gigabyte of rdram for less than half the retail cost. I had a server running 128x2 =256mb + 256x2= 512mb PC800 RDRAM and it worked absolutly great in high demaning memory useage. Even with 256mb it still handled very well using video editng, chat, music, photoshop, and running my web site at the same time.
people tend to over kill and get way more memory than they need because you would think more memory the better. But you're computer will only use so much. The most critical memory useage is when installing a large program or game from you're CDROM. It takes the information from the cd processes it through the memory to decompress and unpack onto the harddrive. With cheap memory this can wreck havoc on installs and creat erros to crash you're pc.
Trust me, spend money only when you absolutly need it. I can garentee that video editing no matter what you're doing is not going to improve you're computer as much as a tune up.
Some easy steps for tune up..
1.start
2. run
3. MSCONFIG
4. startup
5. startup ( remove programs running in the background you don't need.)
6. select the tap again and select services
7. Organize by manufacture
8. browse the unknown manufactures for thing you've uninstalled or not needed on you're computer to boot up.
Next Step
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
download the new microsoft security update to help keep unknown spyware programs logging on to you're internet without you're knowledge. It also has some nice protection features to keep you free from spyware and virus's.
Next Step
SCAN DISK
DISK DEFRAGMENT
Next Step
C: program files and search for spyware installed.
Esample Myway, if you didn't install it and you don't know what it is chances are you don't want it or don't need it. Make sure you remove it from add/remove programs if it's in that list.
Next Step
Cleaning out the DUST
1.Purchase a can of air. Opem the side panel and blow out all th fans and parts on you're computer until they look new again. Make sure to keep bottle tildted upright so it doesn't leave condonsation or freeze marks.
2. RULE.. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. It is Best to do it somehere free of static electricity, it's very fragile.
Next Step
Search ebay for 2x512mb of corsair, kingston, samsung memory. And add it to you're exsisting memory.
UKinstaller on 04/8/2005 10:55:45
instead of using msconfig, i use a little program called StartupCPL. it installs in the control panel and you have much better control over what loads on your startup. i have absolutely nothing load up when i start windows.
www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
other options to speeding up computer:
install Microsoft Bootvis (for some reason no longer supported, but regardless a great program)
run spysweeper. i have tested many anti-spyware/adware programs, and this is by far the best. download the evaluation, you won't need it after 30 days, it's that good.
run ad-aware
run spybot search and destroy
if you run all three, you're guaranteed to get out all spyware. then venture over to http://housecall.trendmicro.com, it's an awesome anti-virus program that doesn't even technically have to install on your computer.
if you are interested in boosting for video editing purposes, you could of course upgrade your video card. another alternative, cheaper way to get a performance gain is to partition your hard drives and dedicate one drive just to video editing. that's what i do when i mess with ripping MPEG's and stuff, it's much quicker than when you have one big partition.
finally, for a generally quicker internet experience, run Mozilla instead of internet explorer. you're guaranteed to get less spyware and so forth, and it's much better than internet explorer. oh yeah, and make sure you have installed all the critical windows updates.
-UK
p.s.
RUN LINUX!! i use Gentoo Linux and it rocks my world.
Buickman94 on 04/8/2005 14:24:00
Thanks for all the advice guys. I like to think im a pretty computer savvy guy, i have already been doing the things listed above, the adaware, spybot, defraging and playing with my msconfig. Im going to look into StartupCPL that UK mentioned.
I also understand that it is pointless and really costly to add more ram than necessary. Some of the CAD programs however, like solidworks and solidedge reccomend up to 2 gigs of ram to function at their peak. I think for the time being tho i will stick with what i have. It would probably be cheaper in the long run to just buy a new PC.
Thanks for all the imput, its much appreciated.
danielm87 on 04/8/2005 16:27:15
Ad-Aware is very effective, along with Norton AntiVirus.....those two are what i have on my Alienware Area 51 and i have been running free of any problems for the past year and a half, using lots of space on games and video editing, too.
Buickman....i personally would go with the rdRAM for your upgrade....it is better for your CAD applications, and all-around makes everything run smooth.
I dont think its pointless to upgrade your memory.....if youve already got a nicely functioning CPU, then keep it and make it better!
Best of luck with your vid and graphic work.
UKinstaller on 04/8/2005 22:06:50
i don't run any antivirus software whatsoever. it takes up a lot of windows resources on top of memory. plus, it seems like the problems people are having today (with trojans and so forth) it's pointless to have antivirus software because it doesn't pick them up.
buickman do you use solidworks?? a good friend of mine works for 3DVisions, the company that makes it. he goes around the country and demonstrates the software. if you want i can ask him what kind of setup you should look for when running it, i know his laptop is a BEAST, the videocard alone was like $1000!
-UK
Buickman94 on 04/10/2005 02:25:29
yea i hear ya on the video card. My dad is actually a mechanical engineer, and the computers where he works that run CAD programs are amazing. UK, no need to ask your friend, i have a pretty good idea of what i need through reading their website, thanks for the offer though. Have you personally ever used solidworks? i love the program, puts autocad to shame for 3D stuff...
sounds on 04/10/2005 13:28:41
UK, antivirus can pick up trojans (provided that the software is up to date and virus definition is up to date). I have an antivirus program that i don't load up when i start my computer. I just open it when I need to do a full system scan.
I fix computers for a living and many situations my customers have problems and most of the time it is either spywares or trojans, using an antivirus full system scan it can pick trojans up. I recommend to them to have an antivirus program on their computer because most of them don't have one on their computer.
Norton antivirus and Mcafee antivirus are good programs. Most people don't want to pay 50 dollars for them unless it came with their computer. I usually recommend this free antivirus program called a href="http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1/"AVG Free Edition/a . It works well picking up most of the viruses and trojans. Best of all, it is free which is the best word my customers like to hear lol
sounds on 04/10/2005 14:04:34
AVG Free Edition.
sorry about that, when I edit my post it'll lose the hyperlink so here is it.
UKinstaller on 04/11/2005 00:51:10
it's been about 3 years since i've run any anti-virus software, last time i used them they couldn't find anything. i would always have to run one and a trojan scanner seperate. i guess the times have changed.
i like trend-micro housecall the best, it seems to find and delete trojans with no problem. plus, you don't have to install it on your computer.
-UK
Replies (11)
sounds on 04/7/2005 16:39:55
with DDR data rate transfers are 266mhz while with Rdram data rate transfers can be about 800mhz or more
Transfer rates are higher with Rdram, but they have higher lactency. They are more suited for things like gaming and video editing would do well in this category. For servers, ddr is better because of rdram's lactency.
My opinion, ddr is a better option pricewise and the lactency, i don't do video editing so in your situation it might be a good thing to use rdram
uochronos on 04/7/2005 18:33:31
ya its not better per say but it is better in certain applications.... also it is more expensive because it is rarely used in personal computers.... with 2gigs of DDR or 2gigs of RD your going to have a super fast computer either way:)
Munchiesyumm on 04/8/2005 03:01:47
Okay...
RDRAM (RAMBUS)
*the catch* PC800 800mhz RDRAM the truth TWO 400MHZ cards grouped together to creat a direct connection and run as one making 800MHZ. This is the reason why you need at least two RDRAM cards and two CRIMMS.
RDRAM has always costed more. They claim their ram is the fastest ram made so their going to charge you for it. However this isn't true anymore. DDR memory has advanced far quicker now but it's still not cheap to make these memory cards because the demand is low, and RAMBUS came close to going out of business.
First of all, you will not need 2 gigabytes. You should start with 1 gigabyte and if you still have you're memory filled up than consider an upgrade but buying more than you need is not a good idea. You can check you're memory usage by "ctrl alt del" and selecting the performance tab.
Don't buy brand new RAMBUS there isn't a point in it. Ebay sells a gigabyte of rdram for less than half the retail cost. I had a server running 128x2 =256mb + 256x2= 512mb PC800 RDRAM and it worked absolutly great in high demaning memory useage. Even with 256mb it still handled very well using video editng, chat, music, photoshop, and running my web site at the same time.
people tend to over kill and get way more memory than they need because you would think more memory the better. But you're computer will only use so much. The most critical memory useage is when installing a large program or game from you're CDROM. It takes the information from the cd processes it through the memory to decompress and unpack onto the harddrive. With cheap memory this can wreck havoc on installs and creat erros to crash you're pc.
Trust me, spend money only when you absolutly need it. I can garentee that video editing no matter what you're doing is not going to improve you're computer as much as a tune up.
Some easy steps for tune up..
1.start
2. run
3. MSCONFIG
4. startup
5. startup ( remove programs running in the background you don't need.)
6. select the tap again and select services
7. Organize by manufacture
8. browse the unknown manufactures for thing you've uninstalled or not needed on you're computer to boot up.
Next Step
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
download the new microsoft security update to help keep unknown spyware programs logging on to you're internet without you're knowledge. It also has some nice protection features to keep you free from spyware and virus's.
Next Step
SCAN DISK
DISK DEFRAGMENT
Next Step
C: program files and search for spyware installed.
Esample Myway, if you didn't install it and you don't know what it is chances are you don't want it or don't need it. Make sure you remove it from add/remove programs if it's in that list.
Next Step
Cleaning out the DUST
1.Purchase a can of air. Opem the side panel and blow out all th fans and parts on you're computer until they look new again. Make sure to keep bottle tildted upright so it doesn't leave condonsation or freeze marks.
2. RULE.. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. It is Best to do it somehere free of static electricity, it's very fragile.
Next Step
Search ebay for 2x512mb of corsair, kingston, samsung memory. And add it to you're exsisting memory.
UKinstaller on 04/8/2005 10:55:45
instead of using msconfig, i use a little program called StartupCPL. it installs in the control panel and you have much better control over what loads on your startup. i have absolutely nothing load up when i start windows.
www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
other options to speeding up computer:
install Microsoft Bootvis (for some reason no longer supported, but regardless a great program)
run spysweeper. i have tested many anti-spyware/adware programs, and this is by far the best. download the evaluation, you won't need it after 30 days, it's that good.
run ad-aware
run spybot search and destroy
if you run all three, you're guaranteed to get out all spyware. then venture over to http://housecall.trendmicro.com, it's an awesome anti-virus program that doesn't even technically have to install on your computer.
if you are interested in boosting for video editing purposes, you could of course upgrade your video card. another alternative, cheaper way to get a performance gain is to partition your hard drives and dedicate one drive just to video editing. that's what i do when i mess with ripping MPEG's and stuff, it's much quicker than when you have one big partition.
finally, for a generally quicker internet experience, run Mozilla instead of internet explorer. you're guaranteed to get less spyware and so forth, and it's much better than internet explorer. oh yeah, and make sure you have installed all the critical windows updates.
-UK
p.s.
RUN LINUX!! i use Gentoo Linux and it rocks my world.
Buickman94 on 04/8/2005 14:24:00
Thanks for all the advice guys. I like to think im a pretty computer savvy guy, i have already been doing the things listed above, the adaware, spybot, defraging and playing with my msconfig. Im going to look into StartupCPL that UK mentioned.
I also understand that it is pointless and really costly to add more ram than necessary. Some of the CAD programs however, like solidworks and solidedge reccomend up to 2 gigs of ram to function at their peak. I think for the time being tho i will stick with what i have. It would probably be cheaper in the long run to just buy a new PC.
Thanks for all the imput, its much appreciated.
danielm87 on 04/8/2005 16:27:15
Ad-Aware is very effective, along with Norton AntiVirus.....those two are what i have on my Alienware Area 51 and i have been running free of any problems for the past year and a half, using lots of space on games and video editing, too.
Buickman....i personally would go with the rdRAM for your upgrade....it is better for your CAD applications, and all-around makes everything run smooth.
I dont think its pointless to upgrade your memory.....if youve already got a nicely functioning CPU, then keep it and make it better!
Best of luck with your vid and graphic work.
UKinstaller on 04/8/2005 22:06:50
i don't run any antivirus software whatsoever. it takes up a lot of windows resources on top of memory. plus, it seems like the problems people are having today (with trojans and so forth) it's pointless to have antivirus software because it doesn't pick them up.
buickman do you use solidworks?? a good friend of mine works for 3DVisions, the company that makes it. he goes around the country and demonstrates the software. if you want i can ask him what kind of setup you should look for when running it, i know his laptop is a BEAST, the videocard alone was like $1000!
-UK
Buickman94 on 04/10/2005 02:25:29
yea i hear ya on the video card. My dad is actually a mechanical engineer, and the computers where he works that run CAD programs are amazing. UK, no need to ask your friend, i have a pretty good idea of what i need through reading their website, thanks for the offer though. Have you personally ever used solidworks? i love the program, puts autocad to shame for 3D stuff...
sounds on 04/10/2005 13:28:41
UK, antivirus can pick up trojans (provided that the software is up to date and virus definition is up to date). I have an antivirus program that i don't load up when i start my computer. I just open it when I need to do a full system scan.
I fix computers for a living and many situations my customers have problems and most of the time it is either spywares or trojans, using an antivirus full system scan it can pick trojans up. I recommend to them to have an antivirus program on their computer because most of them don't have one on their computer.
Norton antivirus and Mcafee antivirus are good programs. Most people don't want to pay 50 dollars for them unless it came with their computer. I usually recommend this free antivirus program called a href="http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1/"AVG Free Edition/a . It works well picking up most of the viruses and trojans. Best of all, it is free which is the best word my customers like to hear lol
sounds on 04/10/2005 14:04:34
AVG Free Edition.
sorry about that, when I edit my post it'll lose the hyperlink so here is it.
UKinstaller on 04/11/2005 00:51:10
it's been about 3 years since i've run any anti-virus software, last time i used them they couldn't find anything. i would always have to run one and a trojan scanner seperate. i guess the times have changed.
i like trend-micro housecall the best, it seems to find and delete trojans with no problem. plus, you don't have to install it on your computer.
-UK
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