1*256 MB RAM or 2*128 MB RAM what is best?

[steimm]

Hi!

Does it matter if you have 1*256 RAM or 2*128 RAM?
What is best and why?
Is it any difference between DDR and SDRAM in this case?

/steimm

 

[Duvie]

if you had some constant variables such as same specs and same manufacturer I think we could figure some comparisons...

1 chip I think would be better in terms of future upgradability while it should not effect any performance...

Maybe 2 chips can have the advantage of more surface area of chips to release heat...

Overall I think the performance gain or not with above constant variables should be unnoticeable, and therefore price factors and future upgradability with available dimm slots are more important factors...

I think it would hold true for ddr as well...

Someone correct me if I am wrong...The fact the chips are a higher density, does this have a noticeable performance factor???? What about oc factor, any?

 

[LarryJoe]

Shouldn't make a difference as long as the 128's are the same brand, batch, spec's, etc.

LJ

 

[Muerto]

I'd go with one stick of 256 just to save space.

 

[Noriaki]

Single stick saves a slot, but usually 1 256Mb would cost more than 2 128Mbs.

Performance wise makes about as much difference as if you call half a carton of eggs 6 eggs or half a dozen eggs.

 

[CuriousAndy]

The data tansfer speed using ONE stick of 256 RAM is significantly faster than running TWO sticks of 128. The mobo has to stream 2 separate transferring of data when using 2 sticks, which will cause noticable (somewhat subtle) slowdown compared to to using just one.

Stick with One stick.. Trust me






























[end BSing..]

~MoO

 

[LarryJoe]

<< which will cause noticable (somewhat subtle) slowdown compared to to using just one. >>



LOL, you have to joking? That is the most absurd thing I have heard in some time. Impying that you can notice the difference between 2 sticks of 128 or 1 256 is comical.

LJ

 

[Duvie]

I am pretty sure he was...look down by the sig...&quot;end bsing&quot;

 

[Raincity]

<< which will cause noticable (somewhat subtle) slowdown compared to to using just one >>

I am having real hard time buying that one myself also. Some mainboards dont like having more than two sticks installed even though it has 3 or more slots, and after adding the third stick the system become instabil. It is better to get a 256 stick incase you want to upgrade the amount of ram in the future.

Rain

 

[Dufusyte]

Two sticks will be twice as fast as one stick because the system can read from both of them at once, kind of like a RAID setup. Two sticks is like a memory RAID.

I recommend you can buy one of those special adapters that let you plug in 256 individual memory modules of 1 MB each.

 

[steimm]

Whoaaaaa, do you have those adapters?
I'd really like to get hold of them, but they are too expensive for me...
Here where I live (in Jupiter) they cost a fortune, in US$ it is 5000 a piece...

LMAO...

/steimm

 

[Imperium97]

If you don't plan on upgrading memory again any time soon, I'd get 2 sticks of 128 and the only reason being is if one goes out, atleast you aren't totally screwed. Ram rarely stops working, but I've had it happen before so it's possible. On the other hand, ram is pretty cheap now so it might not be that big a deal for you.

 

[LarryJoe]

OK, OK, I see he was &quot;BSing&quot; LOL, I missed that

LJ

 

[randomlinh]

the real answer is buy a 256 cause its so damn cheap! GO CRUCIAL

 

[poopaskoopa]

I'm a pessimist who believes something in his PC will fail sometime when it's most inconvinient, so I say go with 2x128.

I used to have 2 generic 128s running CAS 2 then moved onto 1 256mb PC150 Kingmax running 133@CAS2. I couldn't tell any diff. It's infinitely harder than the Coke vs Pepsi test.

 

[Noriaki]

Hmm you can do bank interleaving...but you can do that just as well with one stick as with two.