New processor or more RAM

[kongurous]

Ok, here's the problem. I have oh... $170 dollars or so. I also have an AMD Sempron 1.6 with 512 MB of RAM. I only have two RAM slots as well.

So, what would you do in this situation: buy more RAM or a new processor?

[Toucan]

With what you have, I think the RAM upgrade is best.

[TimP]

More RAM. You're not going to get a considerably better processor for $170, especially if that's a Socket 754 Sempron. You can get another gigabyte of RAM on Newegg for around $80 or $90.

[bluemicrobyte]

Assuming the AMD Sempron 1.6 is about 1.6 GHz, I would upgrade the RAM. Upgrading your processor would allow your computer to do more complex tasks such as video editing, or running complex 3D games. Upgrading your RAM will help improve your computers overall performance in all areas.

[kongurous]

Assuming the AMD Sempron 1.6 is about 1.6 GHz

The system requirements lab thingy said the Sempron clocked a 2.8 Ghz or something. I dunno. Anyway... I was set on RAM anyway.

[Frattimonde]

The system requirements lab thingy said the Sempron clocked a 2.8 Ghz or something. I dunno. Anyway... I was set on RAM anyway. AMD and PowerPC produces about twice the frequency of an Intel cpu per cycle, but they drain more juice/power however.

[TheNutCracker]

Yeah you won't get a good upgrade for the cpu unless you get a new motherboard. Add 512mb of ram and you should be set.

[kongurous]

Yeah you won't get a good upgrade for the cpu unless you get a new motherboard. Add 512mb of ram and you should be set.

I only have two RAM slots. Kinda hard to add 512MB when both slots are full with 256MB sticks.

[bluemicrobyte]

I only have two RAM slots. Kinda hard to add 512MB when both slots are full with 256MB sticks.
Then, if you can afford it, I would get two 512 sticks and replace the old ones. Otherwise, (not sure if these exist) find a gigabyte stick and replace on of the 256 sticks. (but supposedly its better if they're both the same)

[TimP]

I wouldn't bother replacing them with two 512s. Buy one 1 gig stick and you'll have 1.25GB of RAM. I would take the extra RAM over running them in dual channel mode (what BMB is referring to).

[Moser]

I'd go with the path TimP is suggesting. But what specifically are you trying to do with your computer that you need to upgrade it and will these upgrades solve the problem you are facing now? But for $170, your best bet is to go with some more RAM, just make sure you find out what the capacity is on your motherboard.

[kongurous]

But what specifically are you trying to do with your computer that you need to upgrade it and will these upgrades solve the problem you are facing now?

Long story short, about 3-4 months ago, my computer decided it was time to die, so it died. I took it to the computer shop, unknowing it was dead, and they tried to make it work and saw like 4 pins on my processor were bent. They made a new computer and took everything they could out of my old one and put it in, only problem was the new one had two RAM slots, and I had 256x4 RAM sticks. I was stuck with 512, and I've been looking to either upgrade my RAM or get a new processor, which honestly both need upgrading.

I'm running a Sempron 1.6 with 512MB of RAM with a GeForce 7600 GT 256. It could be a lot better.

[ice]

defenently a 512 ram card..

[pixels]

ram card, lol.


anyway, yeah. ram.