Better? 256MB and 2 128MB DIMMS or 4 128MB DIMMS?

[alkemyst]

Abit BX6r2 motherboard. Memory is CAS2 crucial and I am overclocking (129-138MHz FSB).

What is a better setup 4 128MB DIMMS or 1 256MB DIMM and 2 128MBs? I have them now as:

Bank1: 128MB
Bank2: 128MB
Bank3: 256MB
Bank4: Empty

Thanks

Chris

 

[Actaeon]

Your setup is fine, but why not try 3 128s and 1 256?

 

[grumm3t]

If you get the same cas2 ram in a 256/512 stick, I would recommend that over smaller DIMMS. It makes it much better if you need to upgrade later, and a bit cheaper (dependant). If you ever want to upgrade when all of yours slots are filled, you need to get rid of the smaller ones to have room.

 

[SkywalkerX]

personally i would just go with 1 512 mb dimm. that way you have all the expansion slots open to max out the available ram on the sys. another thing to note too is that having more sticks of ram is not as efficient as if the ram were on one stick. think of the time it would take to jump from one stick to the next. as small as this may seem it all adds up in the long run

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: SkywalkerX
personally i would just go with 1 512 mb dimm. that way you have all the expansion slots open to max out the available ram on the sys. another thing to note too is that having more sticks of ram is not as efficient as if the ram were on one stick. think of the time it would take to jump from one stick to the next. as small as this may seem it all adds up in the long run

The performance of two sticks of 256MB is the same as that of one stick of 512MB. There's really no difference.

 

[alkemyst]

My board maxes at a 256MB DIMM....no 512MB's will work. I heard the smaller the DIMM the better it overclocks...didn't make sense to me, but sort of does when I found out my 256MB should be registered.

I also heard the BX6r2 has problems sometimes with all 4 DIMM slots occupied.

 

[alkemyst]

ok just researched....4 DIMMS at stock clocks of under 100MHz is fine, over 100MHz most can't get 4 DIMMS to work, regardless of registered or not (the BX6r2 actually has an elaborate TI memory buffer setup, but get unstable over 100MHz).

still I got in on Crucials 10% + $10 off deal and picked up a 256MB stick to replace one of my 128MB's which will go to my father since he is trying to run Win98SE with 64MB....640MB for me and 192MB for him .

Later I will add a third stick for 768MB and he will get 340 or 256MB (I heard the Abit BH6r1.1 may not be able to handle 3 DIMMS)

Is 512MB the sweet spot still for XP Pro?