4x1gb or 2x2gb?

[Dav0s]

i have 2gb matched gskill ram, but am looking to upgrade to 4gb.

will i notice a massive difference by purchasing 2x2gb sticks instead of just buying an extra 2x1gb and using 4 unmatched sticks?

or if im buying 2x2gb would it be better to add that to the 2gb i have and use 6gb, or leave it running dual channel as 4gb.

ta

 

[Ham]

DDR2 is so cheap you may as wel get 2x2GB and use 6 total...

 

[Dav0s]

thats what i was thinking, i wont see any performance decrease by not running matched sticks?

 

[Ham]

Nope.

Edit: Might be a bit more of a challenge stablising 4 sticks, and may effect OCs a little bit. But the extra ram on a 64bit os will make up for it.

 

[GavX]

Given the current options and not doing what Ham says, 4x1Gb.

Why?

Looks cooler... thats what I done

 

[Dav0s]

looks cooler if you have the same sticks lol. think ill go with buying 2x2gb and run 6gb. i need a new coller before i can overclock anyway, and im only after a few hundred mhz extra

 

[xX_o2_Xx]

nop, but sometimes boards don't like different memory being used if they are running on different voltages,

but this only tends to be on high end gaming ram, usually two different brands won't mix well, BSOD are quite frequent apparently

 

[Direheart66]

I once made the mistake of mixing brand/ memory ammount for Ram Slots. Lets just say they sorta killed themselfs after a while. I guess the Voltage was a bit wacky. Switched my comp on one day and nothing happened. Removed the Different ram and comp worked some. When I went to shop to have them tested they all were working incorrectly.

 

[Mul.]

I too would opt for a 2x2GB set. If it works well with your existing set, great. If it doesn't you still get to upgrade to 4GB and you can simply sell the 2GB kit on.

To ensure compatibility, make sure that you get a set of RAM that's rated at the same speed and timings at the same voltage. If your CPU is overclocked, the additional strain on the northbridge may make ithe OC unstable.

 

[j.woody]

if i were you i would get 1x 4gb of stick. you ask "why?" well simply because you will have some spare slots for future upgrade so you could have 4x4gb = 16gb.

i would also sell your 2gb stick and get another 4gb so you would have 8gb in total.

 

[Toxcity]

But with 1x4GB you will only have single channel rather than double.

Plus, I don't think you can get 4Gb module yet.. ?

 

[j.woody]

yes, you can get 4gb modules. but i said to get 2x 4gb and to get rid of the 2gb

 

[Toxcity]

Expensive much?

 

[j.woody]

i dont know how much they cost but probably around £40

 

[Ham]

Using crucial as a reference for prices. 1 4gb stick £80odd, and 2x2GB can be picked up for £35...

 

[j.woody]

i thought crucial was an expensive brand but after putting it like that then you should go for 2x2gb

 

[Lynx]

i gots me 2x2gb pc2-8500 corsair 5-5-5-15

amazing kit for 35

 

[devil mcry]

4x1gb are more indicated for overclock (if you have micron d9 chips for example)

2x2gb are more stable. On my p5k pro I can't install 4x1gb banks because isn't stable

 

[Hassan]

4x1gb are more indicated for overclock (if you have micron d9 chips for example)

2x2gb are more stable. On my p5k pro I can't install 4x1gb banks because isn't stable

Id go for 2x2GB, just a natural thing.

 

[MarkW7]

Definately 2x2gb.