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I currently have 12gb (3x4gb) of triple channel ram in an x58 motherboard.

The exact ram I already have is on sale at NE for $55 with free shipping. I hate to pass up such a great deal, but I also hate to spend money unnecessarily.

I do some gaming, web development, and getting into some light app development. Nothing heavy duty at this point.

Is it worth it, and is there a point of diminishing returns?

Thanks

At 12GB, you're already way past the point of diminishing returns for today. However, who knows what you'll do tomorrow?

RickyTick wrote:

I currently have 12gb (3x4gb) of triple channel ram in an x58 motherboard.

The exact ram I already have is on sale at NE for $55 with free shipping. I hate to pass up such a great deal, but I also hate to spend money unnecessarily.

I do some gaming, web development, and getting into some light app development. Nothing heavy duty at this point.

Is it worth it, and is there a point of diminishing returns?

Thanks

For what you're describing, 12gb is way more than enough RAM.

RickyTick wrote:

I currently have 12gb (3x4gb) of triple channel ram in an x58 motherboard.

The exact ram I already have is on sale at NE for $55 with free shipping. I hate to pass up such a great deal, but I also hate to spend money unnecessarily.

I do some gaming, web development, and getting into some light app development. Nothing heavy duty at this point.

Is it worth it, and is there a point of diminishing returns?

Thanks

If you were in a longer-lifed chipset, I'd say go for it. However, 24 GiB in an X58 in a lga1366 socket... I just don't see the need for your usage. If anything, find another single DDR3 sitck of your spec of RAM, and hold out for an Z68.

TheEmrys wrote:

RickyTick wrote:

I currently have 12gb (3x4gb) of triple channel ram in an x58 motherboard.

The exact ram I already have is on sale at NE for $55 with free shipping. I hate to pass up such a great deal, but I also hate to spend money unnecessarily.

I do some gaming, web development, and getting into some light app development. Nothing heavy duty at this point.

Is it worth it, and is there a point of diminishing returns?

Thanks

If you were in a longer-lifed chipset, I'd say go for it. However, 24 GiB in an X58 in a lga1366 socket... I just don't see the need for your usage. If anything, find another single DDR3 sitck of your spec of RAM, and hold out for an Z68.

That really depends on how long he's planning to use the computer before replacing it, doesn't it? If he's going to use the X58 system for four or five more years, or until it dies, he's not exactly holding out for Z68.

I'm really considering the x58 - i7 950 combo to be more than capable to handle whatever I throw at it. I realize I need a gpu upgrade, but I'm waiting that one out as long as I can. I was just curious if adding more ram would be beneficial in any way. I may just save that 50 bucks for a new video card.

Absolutely go for it. At that price it's almost criminal not to. Besides it's not 'triple channel RAM', the RAM can be used on any DDR3 motherboard, AMD or Intel. The triple channel part refers to the motherboard architecture. So even after your motherboard dies, you'll still have ALL THAT RAM to use on the next build!!!

And like the saying goes ... 'You can't be too nerdy, too cheetosy or have too much RAM'.

spigzone wrote:

The RAM can be used on any DDR3 motherboard, AMD or Intel... So even after your motherboard dies, you'll still have ALL THAT RAM to use on the next build!!!

Ivy Bridge is probably going to like PC3-14900 (933 MHz "DDR3-1866") memory that runs at 1.5 V or less.

I made a GB of my ram into a Ram Disk.
It really makes photo editing fast.

I'll vote for you checking your RAM usage via the Windows task manager. Try a worst-case scenario of running everything at one time then look at the performance tab of the task manager to see how much is free or avail. If there's lots then I see no point in buying more.

Buy more, when you need more and not before. A purchase delayed, is money saved!. There will always be sales, so don't just buy it now because it is cheap. If there is any history of pricing in RAM or for the most part any computer component is that in the future it will be cheaper, faster, and all around better.

Check your usage, but from what I'm reading, you don't need it. You're actually way past it. Spend that money on an SSD instead.

I have 12GB too and seems to be enough. Usually server OS with SQL Server, Exchange, etc... needs lots of RAM, plus some apps may require lots of RAM. Check your RAM usage first.

RickyTick wrote:

I'm really considering the x58 - i7 950 combo to be more than capable to handle whatever I throw at it. I realize I need a gpu upgrade, but I'm waiting that one out as long as I can. I was just curious if adding more ram would be beneficial in any way. I may just save that 50 bucks for a new video card.

Because of this, I'd say no. Save the fifty.

RAM is cheap. That's why I have 16GB of it, far more than I need. However, that came with a system rebuild, with a mainboard setup I plan to use for awhile.

The X58 platform is powerful, but being the only triple-channel setup in town, it's the only board where memory goes in sets of three. When you eventually upgrade, you'll either go in pairs, or in fours. If you upgrade RAM, you'll probably end up with extra modules that won't work in that configuration, and since you're not maxing 12GB now with your usage (and won't in the near future), why add RAM?

Going above 12GB could be useful if you run a several virtual machines simultaneously, but that's about it. Even with 12GB, you can easily run at least two simultaneously on top of your operating system.

You'd probably be fine with 3 GB of RAM, so if you have 12 GB, then you're probably fine.

I never figured out if 8gb was any different than 6gb. It seemed like my system ran better with SMALLER RAM. I STILL haven't come up with a verdict yet...

RickyTick wrote:

I currently have 12gb (3x4gb) of triple channel ram in an x58 motherboard.

The exact ram I already have is on sale at NE for $55 with free shipping. I hate to pass up such a great deal, but I also hate to spend money unnecessarily.

I do some gaming, web development, and getting into some light app development. Nothing heavy duty at this point.

Is it worth it, and is there a point of diminishing returns?

Thanks

I have yet to find someone complaining to have too much RAM. Specially now that RAM is cheaper than ever it's not a question of too much, it's a question of how much your motherboard supports.

i went for it, but i have 6 matched sticks; so any 2 should work in double channel. a RAM disk would be nice tho; I'm starting to run into a lot of lag and such editing large CAD files. but that may have more to do with cad than my hardware.