Confused 2gb or 4gb of memory with Windows XP Home

[swatoke]

Hi, I am in the process of upgrading two of our computers. I am a little confused about how much memory I should use. I bought two 2gb chips for each computer. I am planning on using Windows XP Home until Windows 7 is released. Would it be better just to install one of the 2gb chips or both? Since Windows XP is a 32 bit system I understand it will only use 3gb-3.5gb of memory. Will the computer run better with just the 2gb chip although it is running in single channel mode? If I us all 4gb's will I get less performance or better, not sure if using 4gb's will cause issues? When Windows 7 is released I am planning on buying a 64 bit version. I have been searching and found that people seem to recommend both, so not sure which way to go.



Here are the components that I am upgrading:

Motherboard - ASUS P5QL PRO
Processor - Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
Memory - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB
Power Supply - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W

 

[biostud]

just install both

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

why would you get less performance if you use both?

 

[Denithor]

Just install both. In both.



You'll get the use of ~3.5GB and won't have an decreased performance (if anything it'll be better because two sticks will run in dual channel mode).

 

[swatoke]

Thanks for the responses. I have not built a computer in the past four years or so and have not used more than 1gb of ram in a windows system. I was probably just getting a little worried because I was reading in forums where people were having problems with new builds that had over 3gb's of ram in windows 32 bit systems. It is just new territory for me.

Thanks again.

 

[0roo0roo]

i use 2x2gb. its so cheap now, check hotdeals...fatwallet/slickdeals. some kits are 19 bucks after rebate still.

i find that with 2gb if you start getting near 1.5gb used the disc thrashing starts..its strange, like windows gets aggressive trying to preserve whats left. it doesn't happen with 4gb well i've never gotten that close to using all 3~gb

still with firefox and other browsers open and other stuff, over a while things add up

with vista u def want 4gb

either way its so cheap you might as well, esp since ram prices only go up when they get slightly obsolete..so upgrading down the line would cost more and well as for the waste, its just the matched pair thing is better..+dual channel...and perhaps eventually you'll get the missing bit back with 64bit os anyways.