The M2TW hardware thread: please post all hardware queries here

[sapi]

@laconic - xp can utilise 3gb of ram if you turn the pagefile down

@chosun - how exactly did you get 3gb of dual channel ram? I wasn't aware of there being 1.5gb sticks...

[Chosun]

@laconic - xp can utilise 3gb of ram if you turn the pagefile down

@chosun - how exactly did you get 3gb of dual channel ram? I wasn't aware of there being 1.5gb sticks...

Can you elaborate on the pagefile please? Not having one or having a small one?
I am running XP Pro. I thought XP couldn't handle 4 gigs of ram, that's why I only bought 3 gigs.
I have 2 X 512mb and 2 X 1gb all by the same manufacturer and same type of memory. Is that wrong? Diagnostic says it's 3 gb of dual channel. Is that not possible?

[sapi]

XP can handle 4gbs of ram, so if you turn the pagefile (virtual memory) down to 0 you can theoretically have 4gb of physical ram - it's not reccomended though.

As to the dual channel question, most mobos only have one set of dual channel slots, but some modern ones have two (usually 1,3 and 2,4 but it varies) and that must be what you're running. My mistake.

[Chosun]

Any thoughts on what would be the recommended video settings for my rig yet?

Thanks!

[Laconic]

Your computer should be able to handle the lowest settings with no trouble. I'd just start there, check your performance, and bump things up to see how your computer handles it. Not really any science to it, just keep increasing your video settings until it slows down too much for your tastes.

[TevashSzat]

laconic it is better to have all of your ram exactly the same in manufactur and size

[sapi]

@xdeathfire - that only applies if you want to run dual channel, and in that case you only need 2x whatever sticks the same (if your mobo supports 2 dual channel pairs of slots, you can use different matched pairs in each)

@Chosun - do what laconic suggested - performance is subjective so you have to go with what you're happy with