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RAM vs Graphic Card, which one is most needed?

stlouisarch1stlouisarch1 Member Posts: 90
in Everquest II

I have a Nvidia 5600 128mb graphic card

I have 512 of RAM

 

Which one out of these 2 is in most need for upgrading i dont have enough money for both due to i'm gonna get EQ2, GameCard, SWG: total experience, game card, and star wars battlefront aswell.. RAM OR GRAPHIC CARD?

thank you!

Comments

  • NihilanthNihilanth Member Posts: 1,357

    definitely upgrade to a gig of RAM if you want to play eq2 well.

    Schutzbar - Human Warrior - Windrunner Alliance - World of Warcraft
    Nihilanth - Kerra Paladin - Blackburrow - EverQuest II
    XBL Gamertag - Eagle15GT

  • stlouisarch1stlouisarch1 Member Posts: 90

    Im currently playing the EQ2 trial and it runs pretty good with my 512ram, its not as bad as StarWars Galaxies.  Hmmm, ram or Card?

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125168

     

    im thinking about this one.  The problem about getting ram is that most of my games, StarWars Battlefront and such dont need a gig but a good graphics card to play at high settings.  I guess im gonna pick up a graphic card now and about 512ram this summer.

  • CillasiCillasi Member UncommonPosts: 335
    The 5600 should be good enough.  I only have a 5200 and 512MB ram.  If I had to do one or the other, I'd get another 512MB ram first.  I've found in the past that ram does more to increase functionality than a new graphics card (unless your graphics card is totally obsolete). 
  • EnigmaEnigma Member UncommonPosts: 11,384

    First get RAM

    Graphics wont mean anything if you dont have the memory to use it properly. It's called bottlenecking.

    If you get a great card but only have 512 MB ram in your tower, then you are sorta waisting the card's talent. Sorta like putting ketchup on a Prime Rib

    Then Ill go for the video card.

    Plus, RAM is very cheap these days and getting a gig is nothing. I have 2 gigs and it costed me very little

    Also, make sure your mobo can run PCI cards. IMO, video PCI cards are simply amazing

    People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.

  • xminatorxminator Member Posts: 306

    You really need more RAM. Its ok for the island, but once you leave the island you'll get slow zoning. More ram helps a lot.

    I wouldnt dream of buying/building a machine for myself with less then 2 gig.

  • Saren42Saren42 Member UncommonPosts: 94

    Originally posted by xminator
    You really need more RAM. Its ok for the island, but once you leave the island you'll get slow zoning. More ram helps a lot.I wouldnt dream of buying/building a machine for myself with less then 2 gig.

    yea, i got 2 gig in mine myself, with a AMD FX-55 and i still get choked up sometimes in EQ 2, lol, then again, i am running on the 1 step below extreme, and it only chokes up sometimes, but yea, RAM, but what kind of CPU do you have?

  • stlouisarch1stlouisarch1 Member Posts: 90

    Here's my SPECS:

    Windows XP Home Edition

    HP Pavilon 061

    BIOS: Phoenix Awards v.6.00pg

    AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 2.2ghz

    512 of ram

    Direct X 9.0c

    Nvidia 5600 Graphic Card

  • stlouisarch1stlouisarch1 Member Posts: 90
    I might get both if i have enough money!
  • CillasiCillasi Member UncommonPosts: 335
    Trust us - get the RAM first.  You might decide to wait even longer for a new video card so you can get something MUCH better, rather than just marginally better. 
  • SweedeSweede Member UncommonPosts: 210

    I have an amd 64 3800+, nvidia 6800GT 256 mb gfx and 2gb ram, so far eq2 runs fairly smooth, running at 1280*1024 with some options turned on / tuned up, in towns i did notice lag when turning.

    image

  • stlouisarch1stlouisarch1 Member Posts: 90
    Is a Nvidia 6600 Graphic Card any good? If i get this card and if I have a 1gig of ram, how will the game run and can i put them on High or should i stick with medium graphic settings?
  • NoubourneNoubourne Member Posts: 349

    You will be at medium, which is fine.

    And get the graphics card update first. You'll have to run at EXTREME PERFORMANCE on a 5600, it's just garbage. The fillrate on that card is terrible. Everything will have to be turned down, no matter how much RAM you have.

    Another 512MB isn't going to let you turn anything up that won't look twice as good on a better video card that will let you turn on specular lighting and other effects without framerate penalties.

    Getting a 6600GT will improve your performance 10x as much as just getting another 512MB of RAM and staying with that horrificly performing 5600. There's really no contest.

    But yes, you do need both, and no, 512MB of RAM is not very expensive at all.

    Habit is not to be flung out the window by any man, but coaxed down the stairs one step at a time. - Mark Twain

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