When upgrading memory remember to look for real evidence of the value of the memory speed and size on the game you want to run. Maybe Stardock could publish a white paper on the subject related to their products. And if they demure from recommending a particular brand and model of memory then maybe just the specs they find as the sweet spot.
Linus gives a 5 minute explanation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWgzA2C61z4
For those who don't like to watch videos: the sweet spot on price and real game enhancing performance reveals itself at DDR3 1866 CAS 9. I say "real game" performance because that's where it matters. The artificial benchmarks that people use in the overclocking community are really only good for the overclocking community.
Remember that this is for today's cpu, motherboard and memory configurations. Linus was using state of the art I7 4700K in his demonstration. Two years from now when Gal Civ III is finally released from beta the sweet spot recommendations may have changed.
Newegg.com
Best prices on Sat, Nov 9 2013
$68.99 with Free Shipping
Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model TLYD38G1866HC11DC01
- Cas Latency: 11
- Voltage: 1.5V
- Multi-channel Kit: Dual Channel Kit
- Timing: 11-11-11-28
- Model #: TLYD38G1866HC11DC01
- Item #: N82E16820313395
- Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$149.99 with Free Shipping
+ 15% off w/ promo code EMCWWXR26, ends 11/11 ($127.49)
- Cas Latency: 9
- Voltage: 1.5V
- Multi-channel Kit: Dual Channel Kit
- Timing: 9-10-9-28
- Model #: F3-1866C9D-16GXM
- Item #: N82E16820231615
- Return Policy: Iron Egg Guarantee Return Policy
$294.99 with Free Shipping
- Cas Latency: 9
- Voltage: 1.5V
- Multi-channel Kit: Quad Channel Kit
- Timing: 9-9-9-27
- Model #: 994105
- Item #: N82E16820226387
- Return Policy: Iron Egg Guarantee Return Policy
$749.99 with Free Shipping (yes - they better give you free shipping when your plunking down $800

)
- Cas Latency: 9
- Voltage: 1.5V
- Multi-channel Kit: Quad Channel Kit
- Timing: 9-10-9-27
- Model #: CMZ64GX3M8A1866C9
- Item #: N82E16820233384
- Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
May your Civilizations flourish in 64 bit. It's just too damn exciting and I can't wait.
backs out of the room slowly... (also looking forward to the Sacrifice of Angels 2 update (Goa and Zombie you too (All you guys rock!(Thanks))) )
After thought: The SOA2 update is out and it was fantastic.