1GB PC3200 running dual channel or 1.5GB running normally?

[MrBond]

When I built my current system, RAM prices were sky high, so I stuck with 512mb of ram, rather than go a full 1gb.

They've come down recently, so I went over to the 'egg ready to buy another stick to bring myself up to 1gb and run in dual channel.

They don't sell the type I bought before (BuffaloTech, could be winbond chips), so I just bought a 1gb pc3200 dual channel kit.

I had intended to sell my 512mb stick, because with it I won't be running in dual channel (3 sticks, my IS7 has room for 4).

I'm wondering if it'd just be better to run in single channel mode and have 1.5gb of ram rather than run 1gb in dual channel. Of course, if this stick I have now has winbond CH-5 chips, I could probably sell it and finance most of another 1gb dual channel kit.

I play games a lot, mostly WoW of late (probably cancling my subscription until the honor system is implimented). In addition, I do a lot of video re-encoding and digital image editing.

 

[ribbon13]

for a *cough*youfooltoledowillkickprescottass*cough* I'd stick with dual channel.

 

[dug777]

from what i understand dual channel brings a fairly small improvement, (i could b very wrong-feel free 2 set me right ) so personally i'g go with the 1.5gb in single channel...esp if ur playing with big images/photoshop

 

[MrBond]

I remember reading here a while ago that while the performance gains of dual channel weren't that great in AMD builds, Pentium 4 users would see a bigger increase, so that's why I was wondering. I may do some benchmarking with both configurations if I have time when my memory gets here.

Also ribbon, my rig is over a year old, when I built it Toledo was still a gain of sand on a beach somewhere

 

[ribbon13]

Dual channel has limited impact on A64s.. he does not have an A64

 

[Tarrant64]

You want to go dual channel with that. I believe P4's are really depending on that memory speed for bandwidth and what not, and with dual channel P4's are given that extra boost I guess you could say. I believe 1gb in dual channel will provide better performance than 1.5 gb in single channel mode.

Hope this helps.

 

[Koing]

It depends on what you do.

If you find your running out of ram with 1Gb in dual channel adding more ram will see a bigger improvement imo (not tested just what I think ). If you see no slow down or ram running out then go with the 1Gb.

If you game 1Gb is fine.

Koing

 

[Kremerica]

I think because the P4 has 800mhz fsb you should run Dual channel on P4 systems to get the greatest throughput bandwidth