Are 2 RAM dimms as good as 1 dimm

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

I'm checking out laptops right now, and one of the configurations has 1- 512 DIMM, and another one has 2- 256 DIMMs. The price difference is significant, like $120. From my personal experience, I haven't known of anybody actually upgrading their RAM, and my personal take on it, is that the laptop would really be obsolete in other ways, so that RAM alone would not be enough. But I was wondering if 2 DIMMs performed as well as 1 DIMM? Thanks

 

[Rapidskies]

Yes, and it is sometimes preferable, especially for troubleshooting purposes.

 

[Lord Evermore]

There is no performance difference. However the chances of having a module go bad are doubled of course, but at the same time, the chances of both going bad are much lower, so the system wouldn't be totally out of commission if one did.

As for upgrading, RAM has long been the most cost-effective upgrade possible in older machines to support a new OS and new software, as long as the CPU was acceptably fast. But in these days of 512MB systems, the chances of needing an upgrade are a bit lower, since the next step would usually be considered at 768MB or 1GB, which is a rather large jump even if something like Longhorn is more of a pig than XP.

 

[MisterPresident]

I'm guessing the one with one DIMM is the more expensive, and if so, it's because the single module with twice the RAM costs quite a bit more than two with half the RAM. As Lord Evermore said, if you're planning on upgrade, it's probably better to have a free slot open than it is to buy a 512 stick to go with the existing 256.

 

[Fallengod]

Actually no, in ddr ram, 2xsticks is a pretty big price difference over 1 stick. Not sure why.. 2xhyperx ddr ram is like $40 difference over 1 512mb stick.

 

[0roo0roo]

limits your upgradablility in the future, since you have to toss one to put in a bigger stick.

 

[Lord Evermore]

In the real world, buying a single module costs less. In OEM-ville, two modules costs more even though each of them has less memory. But I didn't remember there being quite that much of a price delta.

 

[Lord Evermore]

And in fact, it's not that high. It's 84 bucks for a retail 512MB HyperX PC2700, or 53 bucks each for 256MB. So only like 22 dollars (and the matched module kit adds 6 bucks to the single module prices). For PC3200, the difference is 11 bucks. But with PC3200, now you have to deal with making sure you get DDR400 modules with the right SPD settings so that they'll work on an 875/865 board. Stupid Intel.

 

[Fallengod]

Humm Hyperx(3200/256) 256mb stick on THEIR website is $84($168 for 2x256), The 512mb stick is $154. Is it me or does that not make sense... Now that is just their website. The prices I find online for 3200/256 is $59. Then the 512 stick is $109. Then the KIT for 3200/256 x 2 is $149. Wtf! Skipped a few nubmers there didnt we...$40 difference...But to be fair, I think that may be lack of vendors carrying it. The slower hyperx 3200A/256 is only $114 for the KIT of 2x256. Then we get to, why would the slower stick and faster sticks be same price at 256mb, but be $30 differnce in a KIT of 2x256? You can get 3200/256 Kits and 3500/256 kits for same price also...They are both $149, At the same website nonetheless...Makes no sense.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: DeadSeaSquirrels

even though you joined before i did....

/me pulls out my Highlander sword

"There can be only one."

 

[Lord Evermore]

Kingston's store prices are always much higher than resellers.

 

[gramboh]

If you guys are talking about an 865/875 based platform, 2 sticks are most certainly better than one because you can run in dual channel. Your memory bandwidth goes up substantially (from the ~2800mb/s range at DDR 400 to 4800-5200). And yes, getting fast timings on 865 = pain.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Well considering he's talking about a laptop and didn't mention dual channel, the presumption was that it's a single channel system. If it was dual channel capable, the system maker most likely wouldn't even offer a one-DIMM configuration, plus there's no dual-channel laptop chipsets yet.

 

[gramboh]

Oops I'm blind and didn't read that. Sorry.