Too much memory, 1.5gig overkill?

[Shorty]

I have been running my NF7-S with 2 x TwinMOS PC3200 256mb but I really wanted to get up to a gig of memory.

So I picked up a matching TwinMOS 512mb stick from a buddy to fill the last remaining slot .. but then....

Another mate found me 2 x 512mb of the same 512mb stick as above on Ebay. I got the 3 x 512mb sticks in total for £140 in two deals.

I've already sold the current 2 x 256's to someone else and the 3 512mb sticks all arrive Tuesday.

The question here is..

Is 1.5gig really gonna make a difference? I use flash, photoshop and other heavy apps alot and I know the performance difference taking it from 512mb to 1gig does make in that scenario. Should I just sell the odd 512mb or could 1.5gig be utilized to be useful?

Suppose I could make the swap file just in ram now

What do you guys think? or know.. from experience

[directhex]

bear in mind you want 2 sticks for proper dual channel, not 3

--jo

[acidrainy]

I would be tempted to use Dual DDR over the 3 slots myself.....

Other than that... 1.5gig should help you out in 3D apps etc

[LoopyJuice]

Should also give BF1942 that little extra "OOMFH" that is a seriously RAM hungry game!

[Shorty]

I wasn't so sure the dual channel actually made that big of a difference in performance

[DaBeeeenster]

I cant see that 1 GB or 1.5 GB is going to make a whole lot of difference. Unless you are doing really really REALLY large image or video editing and want the whole thing in RAM...

[Trash Man]

Can't remember the figure for how much better dual channel makes and you are right, it's not that much, something like 10%.

[LoopyJuice]

Originally posted by Shorty
I wasn't so sure the dual channel actually made that big of a difference in performance

It really doesnt, As far as I am concerned once you move into DDR RAM from SDRAM you stop seeing the performance increases in the different DDR speeds or dual channel, it's only really noticible in benchmarks, the only point in extrememly fast rated ram (I have some Corsair 3500+ myself ) is the high FSBs you can use in overclocking while keeping the RAM in sync with the processer.

[Shorty]

Real world performance is more important than what a benchmark tells me TBH.

Id rather have a happy photoshop, less swap file than an extra 200 in my Sandra memory scores

As long as I can maintain a happy 11x200 on my 2500+ supermofo.. Il be quite happy

[Ben Rogers]

I've read on another forum that dual channel ddr will work if all three dimm slots are used, providing each module of ram is the same size and speed of course, only when just one module is used will the memory controller run in 64bit and not 128bit mode.

[fondie]

Originally posted by Ben Rogers
I've read on another forum that dual channel ddr will work if all three dimm slots are used, providing each module of ram is the same size and speed of course, only when just one module is used will the memory controller run in 64bit and not 128bit mode.

this is correct! dual channel WILL work fine with 3 dimms installed!

[Shorty]

yayyyyyyyyy!

Roll on Tuesday

Thanks for the updates on the dual channel situation!

[Nemeliza]

I use Max and photoshop. For Photoshop/Flash unless you are creating images at colossal sizes then you will see no difference. 3Ds Max however you may a see faster use as the program likes to burn memory especially when rendering.

[steve threlfall]

As long as you have the same amount of memory in both banks of memory salots then you can use dual channel