Should I upgrade my CPU or my RAM?

[mips]

Well, my Dad just bought me 512 mb RAM stick that seems to match the one in my motherboard, so..thanks! I'm trying to be a Linux gamer, so it appears I made the right choice. Thanks again!

Can you see a improvement in performance ?

[Fonon]

Yeah, nowe my computer runs a hell of a lot faster.

[OrangeCrate]

...If the OPer works with Blender and does 3D rendering, then I'm on board: Get more memory. If the OPer dual boots to play Oblivion then by all means -- put as much memory in there as you can.

On the other hand, if the machine is something to type letters on, download music and send e-mails to an ailing grandmother ... no, I can't suggest spending money on memory -- or a processor, for that matter. Put the money aside for something else -- like a phone call to grandma instead.

Sorry if I'm being a stickler on this one; I just don't like to suggest someone put more money into a computer if they don't really need it. I've seen too many people buy more memory or a bigger hard drive or something else, usually to the tune of $200 or so, because a salesman-geek at Staples told them it wouldmake the computer "run faster." Maybe it does and maybe it doesn't, but without the need for it, I don't know that it's money well spent...

I ran across this thread looking for something else, and I know it's a little old, but maybe an additional post would add insight to users with a similar question...

Though ram is certainly cheap, I have to agree with the above assessment. Comparing my Dell 530N, a 1.6 GHz dual core processor, with 1 gig of ram, to my second machine which is an older HP 512n, with a 1.4 GHz Celeron with 512 meg of ram, without the eye candy features ( I don't use them anyway), both work very well. Frankly, I don't notice any appreciable difference in running Linux on either box. I have a fast 10/1broadband connection, and any lag is due to the servers at the other end, not on my computers.