KVR Audio

rook takes knight · Post by **rook takes knight** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:35 pm

Right now, my PC has:

i5 3570 3.4GHz
8GB RAM
LGA 1155 Motherboard

Should I invest in more RAM or upgrade my CPU to something like an i7?

I should note that I'm using up all 8GB of RAM according to the Windows Resource Monitor.
I plan on reformatting my DAW to see if that would help.

My budget is around $250 (how much 32GB of DDR3 RAM is right now)

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:53 pm

Why not add matching 8GB's of RAM more for starters, I can bet you can score it second hand for peanuts these days.

AnX · Post by **AnX** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:32 pm

Yeah, double your RAM. Cheap as chips.

Are you using big samples/libraries?

Apratim · Post by **Apratim** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:50 pm

See what your bottleneck is ... Which seems like it is the Ram so upgrade that first then watch for the next bottleneck that comes and adjust accordingly

rook takes knight · Post by **rook takes knight** » Fri Nov 24, 2017 11:01 pm

Zexila wrote:Why not add matching 8GB's of RAM more for starters, I can bet you can score it second hand for peanuts these days.

I was under the impression that there's a likelihood of the new RAM not gelling with the old RAM.
That it working isn't 100% probable.

I heard you need to buy RAM in batches.

Burillo · Post by **Burillo** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:23 am

get an SSD if you still haven't.

rook takes knight · Post by **rook takes knight** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 2:41 am

Apratim wrote:See what your bottleneck is ... Which seems like it is the Ram so upgrade that first then watch for the next bottleneck that comes and adjust accordingly

I wish I could figure out what that was by doing some testing with what I have now.

I'd like to be able to come to a conclusion come Monday for Cyber Monday so I can save some money.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 2:56 am

rook takes knight wrote:
Zexila wrote:Why not add matching 8GB's of RAM more for starters, I can bet you can score it second hand for peanuts these days.
I was under the impression that there's a likelihood of the new RAM not gelling with the old RAM.
That it working isn't 100% probable.

I heard you need to buy RAM in batches.

That's why I said matching and second hand.

Do you have any slots left?

rook takes knight · Post by **rook takes knight** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 3:03 am

Zexila wrote:
rook takes knight wrote:
Zexila wrote:Why not add matching 8GB's of RAM more for starters, I can bet you can score it second hand for peanuts these days.
I was under the impression that there's a likelihood of the new RAM not gelling with the old RAM.
That it working isn't 100% probable.

I heard you need to buy RAM in batches.
That's why I said matching and second hand. Do you have any slots left?

I have 2 more available slots.

So you're saying if it works, it works, but if it doesn't then, not that big of a deal.

Apratim · Post by **Apratim** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 6:04 am

rook takes knight wrote:
Apratim wrote:See what your bottleneck is ... Which seems like it is the Ram so upgrade that first then watch for the next bottleneck that comes and adjust accordingly
I wish I could figure out what that was by doing some testing with what I have now.

I'd like to be able to come to a conclusion come Monday for Cyber Monday so I can save some money.

while playing audio from daw watch what is nearly full
you cpu meter or the ram usage first
if both peak above 90%
then upgrade both cpu and ram

phreaque · Post by **phreaque** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 6:09 am

Generally speaking, CPU & Ram both are essential components in PC, the best results when they are both clocking at high speed & fully compatible..
For music production 16GB of ram is okay...

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:09 pm

rook takes knight wrote:So you're saying if it works, it works, but if it doesn't then, not that big of a deal.

You said that you are maxing your RAM out, so yeah, I'm saying add more RAM for starters, it's cheapest investment you can do right now.

ford442 · Post by **ford442** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:37 pm

No amount of faster CPU would reduce your RAM usage - it is probably related directly to the sample banks that you use.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:43 pm

On other hand, you are getting around 20% performance boost with something like i7 3770k, even less with i7 2700k, if you can score one of them dirt cheap, why not, if not, it's not worth it in my opinion, that i5 you got is pretty good.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:48 pm

rook takes knight wrote:Right now, my PC has:

i5 3570 3.4GHz
8GB RAM
LGA 1155 Motherboard

Should I invest in more RAM or upgrade my CPU to something like an i7?

I should note that I'm using up all 8GB of RAM according to the Windows Resource Monitor.
I plan on reformatting my DAW to see if that would help.

My budget is around $250 (how much 32GB of DDR3 RAM is right now)

What are you trying to achieve?

Also, WHEN exactly is your computer using up the 8 GB or Ram? Mine literally never does, neither while gaming, nor while making music.

More RAM or Better CPU?