Oct 16 2005, 10:51 PM
Do you really need 2GB?
[ Conclusion ]
This certainly is a debatable topic that can be looked at in several ways, though the question at hand is "Does 2GB of memory improve gaming performance". While a simple yes or no answer cannot be used to answer this question I do agree with Corsair, 2GB of memory is becoming beneficial. As Corsair put it, 1GB of memory is ideal for the majority of games out there. Nevertheless, there are now a few games that play better with 2GB of system memory. Although Battlefield 2 fails to demonstrate this with a 256MB graphics card, I still believe the game runs much better with 2GB of memory. Clearly games such as UT2004, Far Cry and even Doom 3 will play just as well with 1GB of memory, even the new FEAR Multiplayer Demo is just as happy to use 1GB of memory.
When building the latest and greatest gaming system it just makes sense to go with 2GB's of system memory. However, a mid-range to low-end gaming systems certainly do not require the additional gigabyte. Furthermore there is absolutely no point arguing that 2GB of RAM is beneficial for systems with a 128MB graphics card. For the simple fact that is cheaper and far more valuable to purchase a more powerful graphics card than it is to add another gigabyte of memory. Therefore, when it comes down to what gives you the best bang for your buck; 2GB of system memory is just not a viable option.
Alternatively, what Corsair is doing for end-users by pushing 1GB capacity modules (2GB kits) is future-proofing their systems. Evidently, by this time next year 1GB of memory is most likely going to be a minimum specification for gaming systems. The most important part of building a gaming system is to maintain balance. There is no point in out weighing one component with another. For example a powerful CPU will not compensate for a slow graphics card. When building a race car it is important that the package is well balanced. There are no successful race cars that have overly powerful engines without the correct level of handling to match the power. Well balanced machines win races and it is the same with computers. Spending all your money on a single hardware component is not the least bit helpful.
Therefore high-end games will benefit from 2GB of memory if they have an accompanying top of the range processor and graphics card. For mid-range gaming systems or anything less, 1GB of memory is going to be ample. Although memory is significantly cheaper than it use to be, a decent 1GB DDR2 dual-channel memory kit will cost around $100 US. Spending another $100 US to receive 2GB of memory is just not worth it for gamers on a budget. Given $100 US can be the difference between a GeForce 6600 GT and a GeForce 6800 GT, I know what will be of more use when it comes to gaming. Bottom-line is when it comes down to what will give a gamer the best bang for their buck, 2GB's of system memory looses out.
Reviewed By Steven Walton
This post has been edited by greyPJ: Oct 16 2005, 10:53 PM
2 GB the way of the future?
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