RAM question

[Don]

Which will provide better performance:

4x512 DDR RAM (2GB)

or

2x1024 DDR RAM (2GB)

I have 4 slots that can handle 1 GB DDR each. My motherboard supports Dual-Channel Mode.

Thanks

 

[Never Compromised]

The speed difference is minute. But the 2 X 1024 is better than 4 X 512

 

[xarir]

2 x 1024 has the side benefit of leaving 2 slots empty for future expansion. 4 x 512 means you have throw stuff away if you decide later on to go higher.

 

[Don]

Thanks to everyone for their input!

 

[Gentle Ben]

Correct me if Im wrong but doesn't Windows require the empty slots to have dummy cards or the whole thing won't work if you only use 2 slots?

WRONG​

lol

 

[osanowo]

as much as possible use pairs of equivalent rams to enable dual channel on the mentioned slots. It is a significant gain of performance - but it is not mandatory.

You can have 1gb, 512 then 128 it doesn't matter.

The ram speed can be higher than your system's, but in no way slower.
Ram speeds can also be different from each other, once again as long as it's not slower than your system.

 

[cdog]

Osanowo is right.
Dual channel Ram is mucg faster but you must make sure what you buy id Dual Channel. This is not an automatic feature. I am a dealer and my cost of 4 * 512 is cheaper then 2 * 1024. That dosent mean they will sell it cheaper because some people will add (say $15 for each stick). But if you push it should be cheaper. If you are buyind DDR and Not DDR2 its not very likely that you will upgrade ram again on this system. There can also be a compatabilty problem when adding ram later. When se sell ram we don't even mix Ram from different batches. Good luck

 

[cdog]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes. I should double check before I submit.

 

[Incall]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes. I should double check before I submit.

thats ok with me. LOl

I have a Dell inspiron 600M laptop with only 512 and I want to upgrade to 1 or 2 gig what cost should I be looking at? It is so slow right now.

 

[thirdtime]

Which will provide better performance:

4x512 DDR RAM (2GB)

or

2x1024 DDR RAM (2GB)

I have 4 slots that can handle 1 GB DDR each. My motherboard supports Dual-Channel Mode.

Thanks

2 sticks for sure. Having 4 sticks will raise the latency regardless of the memory's timing.

 

[osanowo]

I agree with you cdog - but - I used to have different brands of RAM as samsung, kingston on the same motherboard and it was no problem. Now obviously I agree with the fact that it is not textbook...
I also noticed that my MB, an ABIT deluxe at that time, could configure the dual channel function automatically even on two different brands. Then again I guess a lot comes from the quality of the MB