2*1GB Vs 4*512MB Dual Channel RAM

[k0nigen]

A mate wants a new pc for various Linux based activities to include a slick music creating/editing program.

He want's 2GB RAM and I'm wondering if he'll be better off with 2 Sticks or 4?

Input = appreciated

Thanks

[Smokey21]

2 Sticks. Easier on memory controller, better for clocking, less hassle, etc.

[noah]

2 sticks so he can upgrade in the future, and unless he has one of the newer sandiego/venice chips 4 sticks is a PITA

[nvening]

most likely the sticks will only run dual channel in two slots also, 2x 1gb is the way to go deff

[darrensen]

Id also have to agree.....for future go with the x2 1 gig sticks, who knows when we'll need 4gb ram.

As Bill Gates quoted many years ago........" I cannot see pc's using more than 64mb RAM"............YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!

[Lee H]

2 sticks so he can upgrade in the future, and unless he has one of the newer sandiego/venice chips 4 sticks is a PITA

Not really, the Winchesters just done like running 4 sticks of memory PC3200 speed and with the timings of 2-2-2-5 with a 1T rate.

Run them @ 2.5-2-2-5 and 2T and its fine

[noah]

fair call, but i call that a pain if i bought a nice expensive chip and fast memory like that

[k0nigen]

He'll probably be getting a Venice 3000 - 3500, early days yet I think

I'm hearing quite a resounding 2-sticks support from the masses so far...

[Firelord]

2 Sticks. Easier on memory controller, better for clocking, less hassle, etc.

Nope 1GB sticks are dense and generally don't clock as well as 512MB sticks (in fact the norm is its very crap for clocking) if it wants and oced system then 4*512MB would provide better ocing oppurtunities.

If its gonna sit stock then 2*1GB will be ok. I would consider a 3500+/3700+ San Diego if his doing music as the extra cache will help...

[StormPC]

If he's using the rig for music then 2GB has very little advantage over 1GB. I'd start with a pair of TCCD 512MB sticks if you're running an A64, and overclock it maybe 5-10% depending on your cooling. Use a seperate RAID controller and really big and fast hard drives. Fast drives will do far more than RAM for an audio system.

I do agree about the cache. A 1MB cache chip is much stronger for most applications.

[Rave]

Nope 1GB sticks are dense and generally don't clock as well as 512MB sticks (in fact the norm is its very crap for clocking) if it wants and oced system then 4*512MB would provide better ocing oppurtunities.

All else being equal, 1GB sticks don't OC as well as 512MB, it is true. However, 2x1GB is a much easier load for the memory controller than 4x512; even with a Venice or SD you'd be very lucky to get 4x512 to run with a 1T command rate, and 2T cuts performance a fair bit. People on xtremesystems are now starting to hit decent overclocks with 2x1GB sticks, so they're getting better.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ad.php?t=62879

[Swafe]

As Bill Gates quoted many years ago........" I cannot see pc's using more than 64mb RAM"............YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!

Stand corrected, it was in 640Kb 0.64Mb, not 64MB, oohh what a silly billy