Dual Channel RAM

[talyn00]

I'm really kinda new to the whole dual channel RAM thing. I know that dual channel is supposed to be faster than non dual channel RAM, but really how much faster is it??

I have 2 sticks of PC3200 256 MB ram that can run at dual channel, and another stick of PC3200 128MB ram and havg another 256mb stick . (all are at pc3200)

Is it worth it to just run the 2 sticks of 256 MB ram in dual channel sticks of ram??
I mean how much of a performance difference will I see running 2x256MB in dual channel as opposed to running the 896MB in non dual channel?

Basically its a question of whether to have faster memory or to have more memory, which is better?

 

[InlineFive]

Dual-Channel (with compatible memory) doubles the bandwidth of the memory's current speed.

-Por

 

[Ionizer86]

It depends on what you do. If you do stuff that needs massive ram, more is better. Examples are Battlefield 1942, Simcity 4, and Photoshop.

Otherwise, dual is better. On an AMD, dual gives you maybe a few percent (2-5%) more speed, but on an intel, dual gives you tons more speed. On an AMD, dual gives your integrated vid a huge kick (50+%) but that's only if you're using integrated nForce graphics.