DDR Memory for socket 939

[koger]

Hi

I have a socket 939 motherboard with AMD64 3000+, and am a little confused about what memory to buy for it.

Should I buy 1 x 512 or 2 x 256, as I have understood it the 2 x 256 offers 5% better performance or so?

The 2 x 256 is that two physical modules or two virtual modules on the same physical module?

If I buy two 1 x 256 modules (same kind), is this the same as 2 x 256 modules?

Should I buy a total of 1GB or a total of 512MB what gives the best performance when playing games like half life 2?

Lots of questions I hope you can help me

I could find a memory forum, so I posted here, hope it's o.k.?

 

[CReatiVe]

2 x 256 would be far better, because you can run dual channel mode with two dimms (sticks), where as 1 x 512 can only run single mode (very easy concept to understand if you care to research it).

2 x 256 would be two physical modules (as above, most ram comes in pairs so dual channel mode will be enabled for performance).

Do yourself a favor and get a 2 x 512 (1gb). It's definitely required for newer games out (half life 2, doom 3, everquest 2). Most of these games use 600mb - 800mb at high settings, so 512 really isn't enough.

 

[koger]

Is 4 x 256 the same as 2 x 512, when looking at performance?

 

[koger]

and should the 4 x 256 be of the same kind, or can it be 2x256 of one kind and 2x256 of another kind?

 

[ts3433]

4x256 will perform a bit poorer than 2x512. This is because the JEDEC specification bumps you down to DDR333 when using all those memory modules (I believe the DDR400 spec only allows for one DIMM per channel or something like that).

 

[CReatiVe]

Motherboards only go as far as dual channel, so 4 x over 2 x gives no benefit. In most cases it causes problems and slow downs, too (like ts said above). Get 2 x 512 and you'll be good to go.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: ts3433
4x256 will perform a bit poorer than 2x512. This is because the JEDEC specification bumps you down to DDR333 when using all those memory modules (I believe the DDR400 spec only allows for one DIMM per channel or something like that).

My board (A8V deluxe) works perfect with 4x512mb sticks running @ DDR400

 

[ts3433]

I know it's possible to run it like that; I was just stating that that is out of spec.