4x1gb or 2x2gb

[Grim281]

Hi all, im thinking of installing vista 64 bit and I am wondering if it would be better to just buy another 2 gigs of memory or just buy two 2gig chips. I currently have an e6600 oc'd to 3.4 on a 965p-DS3 mobo. I heard that filling all ram slots tends to make oc's less stable and the ram I have now already takes 2.1v.

 

[nerp]

It won't necessarily make your OC unstable. It just might stress the memory controller enough that an OC that pushes the envelope of stability might veer towards instability.

My concerns with your setup would be with the 965 chipset. From what I've read, this chipset is a bit more picky with memory and might pose more problems with all four banks filled as opposed to a P35 of P45 board.

I'd buy 2x2GB chips and put them in for 6GB total. If that poses problems, yank the 2x1GB and sell them.

You want to match your memory in the sense that the timings are virtually the same. I'd not want to mix 1.8v ram with 2.1v ram, though.

 

[Denithor]

Pick up the G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-1000 kit for about $50 at newegg. Rated to run that speed at 2.1V so it will definitely handle the volts even if you don't run that speed. And it's cheap, no rebate involved.

 

[18 Is Number 1]

These will do 1100 MHz: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146755

 

[nefariouscaine]

There are a bunch of factors - generally speaking less memory puts less stress on the motherboards memory controller - this is way over simplified and doesn't always play a huge role

My current rig is running 4x1 at DDR2-1120 at 560fsb at CAS 4-5-4-15 - but not always did my boards like to do this - and no matter what I cannot get my board to like DDR2-1200 at 500fsb - even though i can run 1200 at a lower fsb with a divider

If you wanna be sure pick up some of that mushkin or the g.skills - 2x2 makes more sense in the long run - its not that expensive - will leave you open slots and give you some spare memory with your old stuff

 

[18 Is Number 1]

Originally posted by: nefariouscaine
There are a bunch of factors - generally speaking less memory puts less stress on the motherboards memory controller - this is way over simplified and doesn't always play a huge role

My current rig is running 4x1 at DDR2-1120 at 560fsb at CAS 4-5-4-15 - but not always did my boards like to do this - and no matter what I cannot get my board to like DDR2-1200 at 500fsb - even though i can run 1200 at a lower fsb with a divider

If you wanna be sure pick up some of that mushkin or the g.skills - 2x2 makes more sense in the long run - its not that expensive - will leave you open slots and give you some spare memory with your old stuff

QFT