Frys [frys.com] has the 4GB (2x2GB) Crucial DDR2-800 PC2-6400 Desktop Memory for $70 - $30 Rebate [frys.com] = $40 with free shipping. Thanks Zerox.

Specs at crucial.com [crucial.com]

Reviews at newegg [newegg.com]

This is not very high-performance RAM, but holy crap it's 4GB for $40, that's insane. Repped.

Keep in mind that Windows Vista will only recognize 3 GB of this unless you have the 64 bit version installed. I put a different Crucial 4GB kit in 3 notebook computers and Vista only shows 3 GB because I'm running 32 bit which seems to be the standard. So don't think something is defective when you see less than 3 GB on your system properties. Microsoft shows that Vista will utilize up to 4 GB, but it is common that it doesn't display 4GB on System Properties.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946765
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/...01033.mspx

Also keep in mind that if you upgrade to 64 bit windows, some devices and other add-ons do not have 64 bit drivers, and the 32 bit drivers will not work. So you get better memory management, but you may sacrifice some devices. Few software programs are written for 64 bit and some 32 bit software may not function properly. And older 16 bit software will not run at all on 64 bit Vista.

Quote from railroadrabbit : Keep in mind that Windows Vista will only recognize 3 GB of this unless you have the 64 bit version installed. I put this Crucial 4GB kit in 3 notebook computers and Vista only recognizes 3 GB because I'm running 32 bit which seems to be the standard. So don't think something is defective when you see less than 3 GB on your system properties. Also keep in mind that if you upgrade to 64 bit windows, some USB devices and other add-ons do not have 64 bit drivers, and the 32 bit drivers will not work. So you get better memory management, but you may sacrifice some devices.

This isn't true anymore. There was an update to remedy it.

Quote from gamerx : This isn't true anymore. There was an update to remedy it.

Don't worry about it. People will still be talking about that when machines have 16gb ram in them standard.

"Dude, you don't need all that ram. Windows only recognizes 3.5 gb of it" *sigh*

Seems like a good deal to me although I don't really need it for anything. I'd be more tempted if it were slightly better quality ram, but good for people with matx boards who want to max out their ram.

would I need/want 1066 speed ram for a e8500?

Quote from 1200mk : would I need/want 1066 speed ram for a e8500?

Not really. I mean sure, it is slightly faster... that's not a big deal to most people though. It all depends on where you personally have your "is it worth it?" line on the sliding scale from low price to high performance.

Quote from Chocobo : Specs at crucial.com [crucial.com] Reviews at newegg [newegg.com] This is not very high-performance RAM, but holy crap it's 4GB for $40, that's insane. Repped.

Decent OC's on them. Just make sure you keep them cool.

My vista 64bit machine has never shown to be using more than 2GB of the ram I have installed.
Even though I know this to be true, I still feel like I should max our my motherboard at 8GB by replacing my 1GB sticks with 2gb sticks.
Question is, should I waste the money upgrading ram I wont need on this deal, or wait for better ram?

This is pretty hot could use a fillable Rebate form.
Thanks in advance to whoever can provide one.

Quote from railroadrabbit : Keep in mind that Windows Vista will only recognize 3 GB of this unless you have the 64 bit version installed. I put a different Crucial 4GB kit in 3 notebook computers and Vista only shows 3 GB because I'm running 32 bit which seems to be the standard. So don't think something is defective when you see less than 3 GB on your system properties. Microsoft shows that Vista will utilize up to 4 GB, but it is common that it doesn't display 4GB on System Properties. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946765 http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/...01033.mspx Also keep in mind that if you upgrade to 64 bit windows, some devices and other add-ons do not have 64 bit drivers, and the 32 bit drivers will not work. So you get better memory management, but you may sacrifice some devices. Few software programs are written for 64 bit and some 32 bit software may not function properly. And older 16 bit software will not run at all on 64 bit Vista.

your entire post is askew, and seems to be based on old info.


and joelhome, if you are not pushing your system byu gaming and such, why spend the money on ram you don't need?


it has nothing to do with vista...at all.

32bit OS (xp/vista/Linux all of them) can use 4 gig of ram total. that is including the video ram. so if you have a 1gig video card, you only see 3 gig RAM, a 512 meg vid card makes you see 3.5 gig ram. that is how it works, for 32 bit OS's

all 64bit OS's (vista, Linux, and yes there is an XP64bit) can "see" 128 gigs of ram.
so no matter how much ram you put in your machines, it will see it (because i think the record is 24 gigs of ddr3 right now). it doesn not matter the OS, but the 64bit vs 32 bit thing.

and vista64bit, does not have driver issues, i have been running 64bit for awhile, and have no issues

Quote from railroadrabbit : Keep in mind that Windows Vista will only recognize 3 GB of this unless you have the 64 bit version installed. I put a different Crucial 4GB kit in 3 notebook computers and Vista only shows 3 GB because I'm running 32 bit which seems to be the standard. So don't think something is defective when you see less than 3 GB on your system properties. Microsoft shows that Vista will utilize up to 4 GB, but it is common that it doesn't display 4GB on System Properties..

I have 3 Vista 32-bit machines and all Show 4 GB in system properties. (All on Intel G33 boards)

Quote from joelhorne : My vista 64bit machine has never shown to be using more than 2GB of the ram I have installed. Even though I know this to be true, I still feel like I should max our my motherboard at 8GB by replacing my 1GB sticks with 2gb sticks. Question is, should I waste the money upgrading ram I wont need on this deal, or wait for better ram?

My Gateway x64 laptop did this (except showed 3.2 GB) until after I installed SP1.

scarrmrcc is 100% correct. The 4GB limit is NOT a Windows issue (Vista or otherwise), it's a 32-bit OS issue. The hardware you have installed will determine how much of that 4GB is recognized.

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/...00811.html

As for driver issues with Vista 64-bit, there were problems in the early going but hardware manufacturers have pretty much caught up.