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4x256 or 2x512 - Whats better for memory

M

maldacai

Junior Member
Hi

I'm picking up a new board that supports 2xddr400 and I want to buy a gig of ram. I was wondering what was better.

Buying 4 256mb paird ram or 2 512mb paird ram?

anythoughts.
 
Is it for AMD or Intel system? AMD runs faster with 2 x 512, while in most cases, newer P4s on newer Intel chipsets will run faster with 4 x 256.
 
if they are both pc3200 and run the same timings, they will perform exactly the same. I would get the 2X512, that way you room for another 2 512 sticks later.
 
Originally posted by: zodder
Is it for AMD or Intel system? AMD runs faster with 2 x 512, while in most cases, newer P4s on newer Intel chipsets will run faster with 4 x 256.
Click to expand...


where did you hear this? 2x512 running in dual channel on an intel chipset are far better than 4x256
 
Originally posted by: DotheDamnTHing
Originally posted by: zodder
Is it for AMD or Intel system? AMD runs faster with 2 x 512, while in most cases, newer P4s on newer Intel chipsets will run faster with 4 x 256.
Click to expand...


where did you hear this? 2x512 running in dual channel on an intel chipset are far better than 4x256
Click to expand...

Not nececarily. Noone has benchmarked the new Intel schipsets, because only Carmack has one... running 4 dual core opterons and NV54.
 
Originally posted by: zodder
Is it for AMD or Intel system? AMD runs faster with 2 x 512, while in most cases, newer P4s on newer Intel chipsets will run faster with 4 x 256.
Click to expand...

Zodder, not slamming you. So, don't feel affronted. But, this is counter everything I have heard on Intel. I have seen guys at 2CPU talking about how CAS would have higher latencies with 4 instead of 2x. IIRC, they had the numbers to show it. It may be in the massive PC-DL thread there (I am NOT going to search a thread that is well above 200 pages to find it either 😉 ).

Edit - There you go then (base on AT link). The PC-DL is a 533 board. So 2 DS matches what I had heard.
 
in the comments section many users point out that the difference between 2 and 4 dimms running in dual channel is trivial at best..moreover buying 4 dimms as opposed to 2 is more expensive and does not leave a viable upgrade path...(same thing zodder not slamming you)
 
Keep in mind, that more DIMMs == more chips (generally), and that increases both the capacitive loading on the memory signal lines (which means that it is more difficult to run at higher frequencies, although you can increase the voltage slightly to compensate), and also more DIMM == more power, if the mobo's DRAM power-regulation circuits don't have enough headroom, more power draw could make the power supply unstable, which could cause memory problems too.

Plus, of course, leaving some DIMM slots open for potential future upgrades is a good idea too, although you might just end up running into the same problems then, too, that I mentioned above. Really, it depends on the quality and engineering of the mobo/chipset, and the quality of the DIMMs and the DRAM chips on them.
 
also, if they are single or dual banked makes a difference, if you run 4x dual banks that will be extremely tricky to get running really good.
 
Yeah I would definetly say if you want to keep high clocks and aggressive timings 2x512 is the way to go. Most likely cheaper and more pratical. Gonna be needing 2gigs of ram soon enough and if you are hoping your system is gonna keep you going for awhile having extra empty banks is always a plus.
 
Originally posted by: Cerb
2x512. 4x256 might not make it to 200MHz.
Click to expand...

thats damn right, its hard to get all 4 to be stable at the same time.

I faced it myself as I am using 3 sticks of ram
 
the denser the better... always try to narrow down your am't of memory sticks.. it could potentially help stability/overclocking.
 
I'd suggest 2x512mb sticks but make sure they are double sided, if the system is not dual channel you could prolly go w/ 1 x 1GB and have better upgrade options in the future. Just my 2 cents... 🙂
 
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