Building a Graphics Workstation: How Much and Which RAM ?
June 20, 2008
When choosing the RAM, the issues to consider are:
- Amount of RAM
- Type, settings and compatibility
- Cost
Compared to the situation in the past, RAM is currently reasonably priced. So one can choose amount of the RAM on one's needs. With the ongoing trend of applications requiring more and more RAM, increasing size of graphic files, there never seems to be enough RAM in one's computer... Consumer motherboards offer compatibility up to 8 GB of RAM but not all motherboards can run 4 occupied slots at the same fast rate as 2 slots. This information is not readily available for each memory/ motherboard combination. In addition further limits on the amount of max. memory are dependent on the type of operating system. Windows XP 32 bit can support maximally 4 GB of RAM but he virtual address space of applications is still limited to 2 GB, unless the /3GB switch is used. Some people reported problems when more the 3GB RAM was installed in Windows XP 32 bit system.
After reviewing memory benchmarks on the internet, there does not seem to be a significant benefit of using 'faster' RAM compared to DDR2 800. When working with large files having more RAM seems to be more efficient approach then trying to get 'fast' RAM. Similarly important would be the reliability of the particular model of RAM and its compatibility with the motherboard. Most manufacturers offer list of compatible RAM models.
I chose to initially install 4 GB of RAM. The plan is to upgrade to 8 GB of RAM once situation is ready to move to 64 bit operating system. I have chosen CRUCIAL Ballistix 4GB KIT BL2KIT25664AA804. It comes in the pair of 2 GB modules. This memory requires 2.2V to run at 4-4-4-12 settings and is not on Gigabyte list of compatible RAM. Reviews suggested that it works very well with this motherboard even when over clocked. At motherboard default voltage settings of 1.9V the memory runs at 5-5-5-18 timings and it needs 2.1 - 2.2V to achieve advertised timings 4-4-4-12.
After I set up /3GB switch in Windows XP SP3 boot.ini file, Photoshop CS3 reported about 2.7GB of RAM when set to use 100% of available RAM.
When using 64 bit operating system, 32 bit Photoshop CS3 can use up to 3 GB of RAM for its image data. Rest of the RAM in Windows Vista 64 bit can be apparently used for RAM caching which speeds up processing of large files.