DDR2 in Core2Duo, should I get 1 stick of 2GB or 2 sticks of 1GB?

[GundamF91]

I'm thinking of future expansion for Core2Duo system. Right now I feel 2GB is plenty of memory for me, and if I get 1 stick of 2GB, then I leave one slot open for a future addition if necessary. Alternately, I can get 2 sticks of 1GB ram, and utilize dual channel right now. But if I was to upgrfade in the future, I'll have to get 3rd or 4th sticks, and i think anything more than 2 sticks would slow system down.

So basically the question is if dual channeling 2x1GB would give enough performance edge over 1 stick of 2GB?

 

[ryderOCZ]

If the board has 4 slots, then yes.. Dual Channel is worth it over 1x2GB.

If the board has only 2 slots, then I can see the logic in getting 1x2GB for now.

4 sticks will not slow the system down, unless you have it mad overclocked right now. 4 modules can affect the total overclock.

 

[GundamF91]

Yes, the board will have 4 slots, I just wasn't sure if having 4x1Gb will diminish the performance if I find the need to upgrade. On the other hand, I would assume that 2x2Gb will outperform 4x1Gb, at least in terms of overclocking?

 

[ryderOCZ]

Depends on the board and depends on the ram. Many of the 2x2GB kits out there right now...don't overclock a lot, but there are some IC's that are starting to show promise in that area.
I can run 4x1GB at 1066 on P35 and 680i chipsets, something that none of my current 2x2GB kits will do.

 

[GundamF91]

Thanks Ryder, sounds like 2x1GB it is. I really doubt I'll need to keep slots open for 2GB modules to get me 8GB.....that'll be the day when we somehow use up 8GB ram.....but I guess never say never.