DDR: Single sided? Double sided?

[movinslow]

I have two sticks of 256MB Crucial DDR 2100, one is "single sided" and the other is "double sided." Does it matter?

Also, with more ram, should XP automatically use less page file? It doesn't seem to be...

Thanks

 

[AnAndAustin]

Windows will always want to maintain a swap file and it's a good idea as it can do more than just provide virtual RAM (as silly as that sounds). WinXP will almost certainly keep a 256MB+ swap file regardless of how much RAM you have, this is mostly to ensure that there is always a large consecutive and unfragmented chunk of HD allocated for VR use, with modern (ir large) HDs this is a good thing regardless of whether it is likely to be used or not.

As to single vs double sided DIMMs you can't go by whether the chips physically appear on both sides of the DIMM or not although it is a good guide. It doesn't matter in nearly all modern consumer mobos so is nothing to worry about, there is a slight BIOS optimisation to do with the number of banks but I can't recall the specifics off the top of my head but that is a small point LOL!

 

[wizdum]

yeah but there is somewhere you can manually change the amount of space it uses for virtual ram.. isn't there?

 

[AnAndAustin]

Yeah, I forget the Win9x method although it is straight forward and via the Control Panel. For WinXP you simply r.click 'my computer' and select 'Advanced' tab and then 'Perf settings'. It's best to leave the max unalterrred and set the minimum to no less than 128MB, setting a minimum esp in Win9x is wise as this helps to assign one consecutive block of your HD for VM usage. In Win9x it's best to run defrag, then set DISABLE SWAP FILE (if you have at least 128MB RAM but pref more), defrag again and then set the minimum swap size to 128MB - 512MB in order to ensure the perminent swap file is unfragmented, IIRC WinXP ensures the swap file is defragmented either automaticly or when defrag is run.

 

[dszd0g]

Double sided is generally better quality memory. But that is just a rule of thumb. Pre-DDR some motherboards did not support single sided SDR memory.

 

[movinslow]

Thanks!

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Single side uses half the number of ram chips than double side, since it's newer and bigger (256Mbit vs 128Mbit or 512Mbit vs 256Mbit, and so on) memory chips so better performance and stability.

Many motherboards have 3 slots, but the chipset (such as 845) only supports 4 banks, so if you put in 2 double side, the last slot is useless.
Or like BX chipset supports 6 banks, some motherboards have 4 slots, the last slot is also useless if you put in 3 double side.

The only drawback of single side is your motherboard chipset could be too old that doesn't support the newer bigger size memory chips, like BX only supports up to 128Mbit chips, so only can use double side 256MByte module, not single side 256MByte module.

 

[tbates757]

well i think the most important difference is that single sided ram is UGLY!!!

 

[dszd0g]

Good points KingOfComputer. However, I have generally gotten better stability out of double sided memory. I don't know why, I have just generally had better luck with it. In theory less chips would mean less chance of getting a bad one or one that can't overclock well. Maybe it's just been my luck.