2GB of memory.. will 4 sticks hurt me?

[Koudelka]

Hello all.

I currently have 2 x 512 corsair low latency ram. I'm going to upgrade to 2 GB, but it's much cheaper to just get another 2 x 512 for me instead of buying a second 1GB stick and throwing out the other 2 x 512.

So, my question is this.. am i going to experience any kind of performance loss in games if i use 4 sticks to achieve 2 GB? Or is it really that big of a deal to get 2 x 1GB sticks?

 

[Stangs55]

You will definatly be gaining performance. I've got 4x512 sticks and I load games like BF2 about 7-8 seconds faster than a buddy of mine who has an IDENTICAL rig (literally, it's identical).

 

[harobikes333]

If you already have 2x512 just get another set of 512 for many reasons.

 

[ChiPCGuy]

Originally posted by: Koudelka
Hello all.

I currently have 2 x 512 corsair low latency ram. I'm going to upgrade to 2 GB, but it's much cheaper to just get another 2 x 512 for me instead of buying a second 1GB stick and throwing out the other 2 x 512.

So, my question is this.. am i going to experience any kind of performance loss in games if i use 4 sticks to achieve 2 GB? Or is it really that big of a deal to get 2 x 1GB sticks?

If you have a A64 processor, you will need to use 2T command timing in the BIOS in order to achieve stable operation with 4 sticks. That will slow you down some, but then again an upgrade to 2GB will also offset that and more. I would not go and buy 2 1GB sticks in your case--you won't even notice the performance hit of going from 1T to 2T and have quite a bit to gain by having the 2GB.

 

[Lonyo]

You may also need to check your BIOS version.
When I used 4 sticks with an older BIOS on my MSI I couldn't boot above 230MHz HTT, needed the latest version (which allows me to go to over 260MHz HTT).
Although the new BIOS has hardly any mem divider options for some very odd reason, limiting my overclocking, which is very annoying.

 

[Koudelka]

Thanks for the quick reply's, i appreciate it

 

[bigpow]

depends on your mobo, you might have to reduce the timings (1T to 1T, 2.0 to 2.5, etc)

 

[allanon1965]

my wife and I are both running A64 cpu's, 2 gigs(4X512) at 2T with no problems whatsoever, mine is the 3000+ venice core, hers is the 3000+ winchester core, Both are running kingmax DDR hers PC3200 and mine PC3700, contrary to some stated opinions, they are running at 400mhz memory speed with all 4 slots filled. these machines simply fly! you wont notice any performance hit at all, trust me....you might see a benchmark difference, a slight one, but thats it..we are using ECS KN1 Extreme motherboards....

 

[xtknight]

I'm running 4x512MB 2T/333 MHz. No noticeable slowdowns whatsoever. It is only much faster. Don't worry about it.

 

[bchivers]

Both are running kingmax DDR hers PC3200 and mine PC3700, contrary to some stated opinions, they are running at 400mhz memory speed with all 4 slots

It depends on the motherboard,for instance some MSI boards will run two sticks max.speed DDR400 but with four sticks it runs at DDR333 max.