Got an awesome 512x2 setup here, want to upgrade to 2 gb.....

[AlphaNex]

Got some Crucial Ballistix here, running at 235HTT 2.5-2-2-5 timings (a64 3000 venice core). Its a gig (512x2). I really love this memory, its been very good to me. Rock stable, and very fast. I want to upgrade to 2 gigs but I really dont wanna lose this memory. My ideal manuever would have me buying another kit of these thus giving me 4x512. I know that having 4x512 is not ideal for an a64 system due to being forced into 2t command rate. But what im wondering is, would it really hurt that badly? My memory is pretty fast as is and im wondering would that offset being in 2t mode somewhat or would it still kill my performance? Im on an EVGA N41 SLI motherboard.

Another alternative ive considered is buying 1 more 512 stick and having 1.5GB of memory. I wouldnt be in 2t mode any more, but I would also lose dual channel operation. This raises the question of how much dual channel mode would hurt me. I know that it would some, but it may be worth the reduced stuttering in newer games.

I would test these things glady if I had the available resources to do so, but I do not so I come here asking for advice, and any that I recieve will be appreciated.

 

Even if you had slower memory than what you've got, the performance difference would be negligible. Think about the cost involved - is one or two milliseconds worth the added time and expense of selling your old memory, waiting for new memory and installing it?

Just get two more 512MB sticks.

 

[TSS]

i'd vote for the 2 more 512mb sticks options sure the 2T will make performance drop a little, but i think itll hardly be noticed outside benchmarks. framedrops in some games should decrease and youll notice that sooner than the few FPS you lost.

 

[rise]

sell it and get 2x 1gig.

 

[Jaihahih]

Get another 512 stick and save your money. Seriously, I don't notice the difference between 2.6 GHZ and 2.4 GHZ, so 2T and dual channel shouldn't see much of a difference in terms of real life experience with your PC.

 

[Munky]

I'm curious what would be faster: 4x512, 2-2-2-8, 2T or 2x1gig, 2.5-3-3-8, 1T ?

 

[xgunnas32]

really, u lose 3-5% in benchmarking going from 1T to 2T on teh same rams, i was struggling with the \1T to 2T thing for a long time b4 i actually tried it, turned out to be a non factor

go 4x512 man, 1gb ram not enough at all