2x1024 vs. 4x512 PC3200/DDR400 on NF4 board...

[rikilii]

...I've heard that using all four slots on an NF4/939 board can reduce your memory performance compared to two slots.

My question is: I'm thinking about adding another gig, so how much of a performance hit are we talking about here in terms of FPS? 1%? 20%? Something in between? Does it make a difference at all if I'm not trying to overclock?

Keep in mind that right now, I spend 99% of my time playing WoW with all the settings jacked, but I sometimes dabble in more graphically demainding games, like Oblivion. Other data points:

Processor=A64 3200+
GPU=7800GTX
MB=DFI Lanparty Ultra-D
RAM = 2x512 OCZ Gold memory (the 2-2-2-5 stuff that was popular a year ago)

I haven't bothered overclocking, and probably won't. Other data points

I'm initially planned to get another 2x512 of similar OCZ Gold (the stuff I have is not available any more it seems), butome people have recommended that I sell my current memory and buy 2x1024 because of the performace hit (something about 1T vs 2T that I don't even begin to understand). But I'm not really up for the hassle of selling my current memory, or the greater expense of simply chucking it.

 

[Tweak155]

I will buy your 2x512 at a good price

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Getting 1024 sticks you'll probably end up with higher latency that might end up making you lose as much as going from t1 to t2. There was an article somewhere that was making the comparison; I'll try to find.

 

[rikilii]

Originally posted by: Tweak155
I will buy your 2x512 at a good price

It's not that I'm too lazy to mail the memory to someone, it's that I'm wary about dealing with the logisitics of selling something to a total stranger.

 

[Tweak155]

Originally posted by: rikilii

Originally posted by: Tweak155
I will buy your 2x512 at a good price

It's not that I'm too lazy to mail the memory to someone, it's that I'm wary about dealing with the logisitics of selling something to a total stranger.

That is why god created heatware

 

[cmdrdredd]

The system will be much much slower with 4 slots filled because you are forced to use a 2t command rate. That's a big difference from 1T. The higher latency is a NON issue when they maye low latency 1GB sticks.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
The system will be much much slower with 4 slots filled because you are forced to use a 2t command rate. That's a big difference from 1T. The higher latency is a NON issue when they maye low latency 1GB sticks.

I think the speed difference between 1T and 2T is overstated. I upgraded from 2x512 to 4x512 earlier this year and could not notice a speed difference at all (other than the added smoothness of not having to page to the hard drive so much). Obviously two low-latency 1GB sticks would be ideal, but not everyone wants or has that much money to spend on a RAM upgrade if you already have 1GB. I paid $55 for my second 2x512MB sticks and it's one of the best inexpensive upgrades I ever did.