4 x 512Mb or 2 x 1Gb ? to get up to 2Gb.

[Dave_07]

Is there are performance difference between 2Gb's worth of ram split into 4 sticks of 512Mb over 2 sticks @ 1Gb ?

[sawyen]

not noticeable unless you bench.. even then, the difference isnt all that much.. 3-5% on benchscores?

Gaming will get hit by about 2-3%, but like anyone would actually notice it..

[dodgybob]

I doubt that there would be much difference with a P4, it's mainly the A64s that work better with 2 sticks rather than 4.

[Blitzen]

I use 4 x 512MB Crucial Ballistix and thought about the consequences aswell.

SO

I tried 2 x 1gb units and it was fractionally slower suprisingly enough.

TBH;.....you wont notice the difference. Just make sure the modules are similar so you ca go dual channel if using 2 or 4

[danroyle]

I use 4 x 512MB Crucial Ballistix and thought about the consequences aswell.

SO

I tried 2 x 1gb units and it was fractionally slower suprisingly enough.

TBH;.....you wont notice the difference. Just make sure the modules are similar so you ca go dual channel if using 2 or 4

found similar to you alot of 2x1gb sticks tend to be fractionally slower reading due to the high density of the memory modules on board


so no very little in it go 4x512mb seems to be a lot cheaper than 2x1gb kits at the minute as memory prices are stupidly high sold 2gb mushkin early in the year and only got £90 sold my ocz 2gb kit a month ago and got£150 and the mushkin was miles better

[jackvdbuk]

i cant remebr much but in some places it puts more stress on the northbridge? so it gets hotter and overclocks are lower? or am i talkin nonsense

[spiral out]

I thought that running 4 512 sticks meant you had to run in 2T on AMD 64 systems at least, i guess i'm wrong then.

[Blitzen]

Mayber you do,,,,i dunno.
Im on a P4 so not sure!

[s_kinton]

I thought that running 4 512 sticks meant you had to run in 2T on AMD 64 systems at least, i guess i'm wrong then.

That only applies to the athlon64 single core socket 939s, all except the venice core, i think.

[Free Thinker]

Only if they're single-sided.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...-venice_3.html

Every time a new Athlon 64 processor core come out AMD engineers continue tuning up their integrated memory controller. Note that this is done not only for the sake of increasing the processor performance, but mostly in order to extend the compatibility of this memory controller with the different DIMM modules and their configurations. The previous 90nm Athlon 64 processor core aka Winchester had certain performance limitations when four DDR400 SDRAM modules were used. If there were four single-side DDR400 SDRAM DIMMs installed in a system with a Winchester based Athlon 64 CPU, they could only work with the 2T timing, which caused a few percent drop below the usual performance level. If there were four double-side memory modules installed, DDR400 SDRAM would not work at all and its working frequency would automatically drop down to 333MHz.

AMD engineers promised to eliminate this problem in the new Venice core and they did keep their word. Athlon 64 processors based on Venice can work with four single-side DDR400 SDRAM modules without any limitations, and if there are double-side DDR400 SDRAM DIMMs installed, they can work at 400MHz with 2T timing.

[5lab]

i'd run 2x1gb. they'll be worth a lot more in the future (look how little 256meg sticks are worth now.. they're practically useless)

[Yellowbeard]

For a variety of reasons, 2 x 1gb is better. Also, if you buy memory to mix with your existing memory, and you don't EXACTLY match the ICs and revisions, you can get all sorts of issues and instability. I would suggest the 2 x 1gb for sure. It's less loading on the NB meaning better longevity for your MOBO. Also, if you decide to OC, you can OC much better with 2 DIMMs vs 4 DIMMs due to less chipset loading.

[Blitzen]

For a variety of reasons, 2 x 1gb is better. Also, if you buy memory to mix with your existing memory, and you don't EXACTLY match the ICs and revisions, you can get all sorts of issues and instability. I would suggest the 2 x 1gb for sure. It's less loading on the NB meaning better longevity for your MOBO. Also, if you decide to OC, you can OC much better with 2 DIMMs vs 4 DIMMs due to less chipset loading.

Sorry but i dont agree with any of those comments.
a). If you buy matched units then instability isnt an issue. To have dual channel they only have to be matched pairs. Memory DOES NOT have to be identical to run Dual Channel either. Although it helps its not a forgone conclusion.

b). You wouldnt get instability either. Dual channel may not enable thats all.

c). There is no fact at all in the statement that the OC is better with 2x1gb rather than 4x512mb. If the motherboard is decent then the very small extra load has no effect at all.

d). Longevity of mobo depending on the less on the Northbridge is also incorrect. As said above, the tiny bit extra on a decent mobo will not even be noticeable.


The ONLY place there may be a small problem is if you have a poor PSU. The extra load from 2 extra DIMMS may have an OC effect.
If you have a half-way decent PSU though, this will have no adverse effect either.

I see you are a Corsair techie and maybe your memory although decent enough is a 'bit touchy' sometimes shall we say so maybe you were just talking from a Corsair point of view.

I use Crucial Ballistix and its extremely fast and not as fussy.

Try the Crucial test to see what kind of memory is required: http://www.crucial.com/uk/?gclid=CNe...FQKIEQodsC_Cig

[danroyle]

That only applies to the athlon64 single core socket 939s, all except the venice core, i think.

2t means how many times the cpu looks through the memory banks for dat if you have 2 sticks in dual channel it will run at 1t as it reads through 1 bank of memory modules if you have 4 sticks in the system it has to read from both banks of memory so you get 2t timing or so i was told anyway

[x64united]

ive always wondered that aswell.

[sawyen]

2T and 1T means nothing guys.. 2% difference.. maybe 5% during benching.. but for everyone else.. it doesnt mean nuts really..