"It’s worth noting that DDR2 memory is amazingly affordable at its current pricing point. 4 GB kits look especially appealing, but remember that you’ll need a 64-bit operating system to take advantage of all of it."

That's not strictly true. Windows Vista SP1 can now recognise 4GB of RAM on a 32 bit system.

As always, a very interesting article. I had heard that Vista 32 bit SP1 was going to have 4Gb memory support. Is this correct?

And before you say "Vista SP1 only recognises the RAM but does not address it." you could use Physical Address Extensions to utilise the extra RAM.

What I found interesting is that on the C2D, the 667 MHz 3-3-3-8 pretty consistently outperformed the 800 MHz 3-3-3-8. Apperantly, the 1:1 divider is so much more efficient than the 5:6 divider, that the clock speed is a smaller factor.
I have a C2D 8400 running with DDR2-800, I'm gonna try if running it at 667 MHz will improve performance. Didn't expect that.

32bit OS's cant use 4Gb of RAM its a limitation of the x86 architecture. 32Bit OS can only address up2 4Gb if u have a GFX card with 512Mb theres half a gig gone there and then so windows could only use the remaining 3.5Gb for RAM. Now jus imgaine 2x 8800GTX's in Sli 768Mb Each!!

Does anyone read previous posts?
and...
I'm sure graphics cards with any amount of RAM use it independant to whatever Windows has so I'm pretty sure what Matt26LFC said is not quite correct.

Fidens1 - there is no difference between Vista and Vista SP1 in their ability to address 4 Gb of RAM.

The only difference is that under SP1, Vista displays the amount of INSTALLED RAM rather than the amount available to Windows - see the information in the Microsoft article about the Vista SP1 changes, here:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Wind [...] x?mfr=true

It's the second bullet point under the "General Improvements and Enhancements" section.

As for Physical Address Extension, that's something quite different, and not unique to Vista SP1 or even to Vista - Windows XP can do that.

Matt26LFC is correct. Although the RAM on the graphics card is independant, it still forms part of the total addressable space. Running a 64bit OS resolves the addressable memory barrier even if it does introduce other side issues...

Yes, but with SP1 you can now "SEE" the amount of RAM installed (up to 4GB) as well as use it with Physical Address Extensions. So really, going back to the article, you can use 4GB and see it in a 32 bit system.

Using Physical Address Extension, surely this could offset the RAM on the graphics card?

Even with PAE, addressable space remains at 4GB in a 32 bit OS. PAE provides a mechanism where by memory beyond 4GB can be used by applications capable of making use of it, for example, SQL server. It does this by creating multiple processes.

PAE is patchy at best when used not thing you norm use (and vista does not support it officialy and will more then likey result in an BSOD alot)

Vista 32 and vista 32 SP1 Does Not support more ram then each other, Vista NOW reports the Amount Of Installed RAM Not what is usable what very poor way that microsoft have done this as now thay are hideing the fact that laptops with 256mb shared ram does not show it been used any more, thay should of shown both ways total installed total usable (and an help box to explane why usable is lower then installed)

Plase task manager (press Ctrl-Shit-Esc will open it as well) and click on performace and you see how much ram is usable there under Physical > total {4gb = 4000 ish}

with an 32bit OS with 4gb depeding on more then 1 video card is in use or motherbaord as well it be anywhere between 3.5gb {3500 ish} all the way down to 2gb {2000 ish} of useable ram on Any 32bit os

Cant believe the way microsoft have handled this, trying to make people think they can now use 4Gb+ i agree with u leexgx that should show both values and throw in a help box to explain.

Any chance of you doing the same or similar tests on an AMD Phenom system?

Power consumption?

Is Aeneon's semi transparent (x layers PCB) with aeneon chips much slower than decent looking Buffalo sticks and both of them much slower than OCZ sticks. All ddr2 800, 5-5-5-12?

Anyone compared this low cost sticks with high cost sticks? Any differences in %?

So if you already have 2 gig installed, have 1 gig of graphics RAM, what size swop file can you use? Is it addressed differently?

I Have an Asus P5N T Delux Motherboard with an intel Qx9650 CPU a 750GB Seagate Barracuda with 32Mb Cache and also have 2xGeForce 880GTX Graphics cards with 768MB DDR3 memory and 8GB of PC6400 800 Geil Black Dragon Ram can anyone tell me if its possible to run faster memory with my setup or would it not be cost effective to go for faster memory? I have Vista Ultimate 64Bit OS which recognises my 8GB of Memory and I have 6280MB Free. What memory would be best for this setup and where can I get it from? my systems Motherboard has a 1333FSB I think sorry to be so vague but I dont know a lot about memory or motherboards.