2x 256 or 1x 512?

[xynder]

What should I go with? My friend says 1x 512 is better because you can't store half a file across two pieces of 256... what do you guys think?

 

[MasterHoss]

What mobo do you have?? I would prefer 2 x 256 sticks.

 

[xynder]

It'll be either Asus A7V333 or Gigabyte 7VRXP

 

[SUOrangeman]

If you don't have any intentions of maxing out your RAM capabilities, the 2x256 gives you some leeway if a stick is/goes bad. If you only have one and it goes bad, you can't do anything until it is replaced.

-SUO

 

[xynder]

Is there any difference, performance-wise?

 

[gunf1ghter]

Originally posted by: xynder
What should I go with? My friend says 1x 512 is better because you can't store half a file across two pieces of 256... what do you guys think?

I am not sure what the heck your friend is talking about. The system views the entire RAM address range as a contiguous chunk of ram (AFAIK).... breaking up files across the two stick is seamless as far as the system is concerned.

methinks your friend is smoking crack.

The main reason to get 512 is if you are doing hard core overclocking it is easier to get a single stick of 512 stable than two 256 sticks (which might have slightly different tolerances, etc).

The 2ndary reason to get a single 512 stick is if you will upgrade to more RAM in the near future and are using a motherboard that has a two slot limit (like I845 chipset mobos).... if you were eventually planning on running a ton of RAM for video editing etc, it could be a problem.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

The most important factors to consider are the following:
- 2x256 MB is usually cheaper than 1x512 MB
- Some current DDR motherboards don't like running with 3 sticks of RAM (they revert to lower speeds, nForce comes to mind)
- 512 MB may be slightly less overclockable because they are higher density than the 256 MB sticks
- 512 MB sticks almost always come out after the 256 MB sticks

That being said, I'd go with the 1x512 MB for expandability purposes. I have 1x512 MB Crucial PC2100 running at 150 MHz FSB (300 MHz effective), and haven't ahd any problems.

-Ice

PS your friend is on crack, as stated above the system sees memory as a continuous list of addresses. What's stored in RAM is at a much lower level than a file, your friends comment is blatantly ignorant.

 

[sharkeeper]

My friend says 1x 512 is better because you can't store half a file across two pieces of 256...

ROFLMFAO!

Sorry, but that is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!

Cheers!

 

[larciel]

oc guy said that having multiples of DIMM might not help when achieving high FSB.. makes sense.. but Kyle at HardOCP said that Ed is a 'dumbass' .. i saw it from somewhere