4 GB dual channel or 6 GB slower memory, which is better?

[Barfo]

Computer in sig. I use it for some gaming, normal office stuff and web browsing.

I was wondering if salvaging the two PC2-4200 1 GB dimms from my old computer and putting them in the current one would get me better performance in spite of the memory running slower.

 

[billyb0b]

4gb dual channel

 

[theAnimal]

6GB slower RAM would be better if your system uses more than 4GB, otherwise 4GB dual channel would be slightly faster.

 

[Blain]

Computer in sig. I use it for some gaming, normal office stuff and web browsing.

I was wondering if salvaging the two PC2-4200 1 GB dimms from my old computer and putting them in the current one would get me better performance in spite of the memory running slower.

:hmm: Nostradamus isn't a member here, bet we'll try to help.

With the memory being different specs, you may run into stability or compatibility issues when mixing them.
If you already have the extra memory, run some benchmarks before installing it.
Then assuming the system boots up ok, run the same benchmarks afterward and see how the performance changed.
* If the system has stabilit problems ot it doesn't boot... remove the old RAM
* If the system performs worse than before... remove the RAM
* If the system performs better with the added memory... Leave the RAM installed

 

[Barfo]

:hmm: Nostradamus isn't a member here

Sorry if I was vague. I haven't really noticed much swap file use, if any. I was just thinking that maybe windows would be a little snappier with the extra ram. And since I don't have much time right now to run benchmarks and thinker with different dimm combinations I'll just leave it as it is.

Thanks for the help.

 

[tweakboy]

If your using W7 then 4GB is not enough. You need 6GB kit and will notice speed improvement especially when multitasking or running big apps. gl

 

[dfuze]

I've got 4gb in my system and will be adding 2gb more this afternoon. I'm not running any benchmarks, but I can let you know how it "feels".

 

[FishAk]

If your using W7 then 4GB is not enough.

W7 won't even let you use 4Gb, unless you have the 64-bit install.

With my normal usage, I rarely see more than 2.5Gb being used with W7. If I'm rendering an animation, or doing something really heavy, I get close to 12Gb in play. Obviously, more memory is better, but W7 by itself doesn't need much.

 

[sub.mesa]

6GB of course, that effectively adds 2 gigabyte cache to your harddrive.

 

[wpcoe]

Someplace I read (in the context of using the rest of 4GB on a 32-bit system, and using an SSD) where someone used a (free?) program that took a part of the 4GB (512MB?) and made a RAM drive out of it. The program supplied a drive letter (before Windows loaded?) and s/he redirected \temp files and some other directory there so that they wouldn't be constantly using the SSD.

Sorry to be so vague on the exact details, but I hope the concept is clear. It's been in the back of my mind since I read it. I should have at least bookmarked it, but alas...

I've got 2 more 2GB sticks to put in my system to make total of 8GB. I know that is overkill for what I do, since I reduced my swap file to 256MB, and have never seen it go above that. But, we are what we are, and I couldn't resist buying it.

Does anybody have a clue to what I'm rattling on about, and/or the source for the web page where I read it?

 

[zagood]

Dataram RAMdisk. Pretty effective in practice. However, the "safe" way of using it makes booting and shutdown take a long time (especially shutdown) and takes up as much space as you set aside on your hard drive.

 

[poohbear]

If your using W7 then 4GB is not enough. You need 6GB kit and will notice speed improvement especially when multitasking or running big apps. gl

huh? i noticed no difference in win7 going from 2gb to 4gb (games is different, but the OS itself performs the same), so i doubt 6gb is gonna make any difference.

 

[dfuze]

It's been a couple of days since I got and installed the extra 2gb of memory and everything works great. No more errors in game running low on memory. I haven't done any benchmarks but if anything is "slower" I haven't noticed. Very worthwhile investment for me since I'm keeping this config another year or two.

 

[Barfo]

What game was running low on memory for you?