Another RAM thread

[Dumac]

I currently have 2x512 stick of generic 3-4-4-7 DDR 400 SDRAM. I am getting 2x1GB of 2.5-3-3-6 RAM of the same type. Would it generally be overall faster to just include the 2x1GB, or all the sticks to make a total of 3GB of RAM. I heard that A64 processors get like a 5% preformance hit if you use 4 ram sticks. Also, would the 2x1GB sticks and 2x512 still run in dual channel, just in seperate pairs?

How would this change if the 2x1GB had timing of 2-3-2-5?

 

[Bobthelost]

Ok, first it's very unlikely that you're using more than 2GB of RAM, as such there would be no performance increase at all going from 2GB to 3GB.

However it's true that A64s do suffer a performance hit when running 4 sticks of RAM (because the controller has to use 2T command settings), it varies from program to program from 0% to 10%, either way it's not good. As such running 4 sticks of RAM would be a bad idea if you can avoid it.

The latencies is more complicated, you might get a 1% or 2% performance increase from the lower latency RAM, but again it'd be application dependant.

Lower latency is good, but the performance increase is rarely worth the extra cost. (Newegg had some nice patriot low latency stuff on rebate so it was $150 instead of $200. If they still do then it's really worth a look).

If i were you i'd buy the 2x1GB sticks and hang onto the old stuff, if it turns out you are using more than 2GB (Very unlikely) then stick the old stuff in.

 

[Ronin]

If you're running WinXP, anything over 2GB is a waste. x64 will yield noticeable results with 3GB of RAM, but WinXP, whether you think so or not, isn't going to utilize more than 2GB.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Ronin
If you're running WinXP, anything over 2GB is a waste. x64 will yield noticeable results with 3GB of RAM, but WinXP, whether you think so or not, isn't going to utilize more than 2GB.

certain programs can and do use more than 2GB in xp, like ps:cs2 working with huge files with mulitiple layers.

however based on the op's question i doubt he will use more than 2GB, op are you sure you are even using all of your 1GB?

 

[obeseotron]

Using 4 DIMMs is almost always slower than 2 DIMMs on an Athlon64, period. The only reason it ever makes sense is if you are willing to trade 5-10% performance for a reduction in thrashing (ex: trade lower average framerate in FEAR for less hiccups and stutters). That rationale only really applies to 1GB vs 2GB questions though because with 2GB nothing should thrash anyway, I can't see any good reason to install 3GB in 4 DIMMs. Also Windows XP uses up to 4GB just fine in 32 bit, it's not like Win9x which was actually adversly affected by too much RAM.