How important is Dual-Channel configuration For Athlon XP on Nforce 2 motherboard?

[RussianSensation]

Is there a big difference in the real world benchmarks and not synthetic benchmarks between dual- and single-channel memory configurations for Athlon XP (Barton specifically) on Nforce 2 (Ultra 400) motherboard?

 

[fwtong]

I think I read either here or on overclockers.com that dual channel for AMDs is not a big deal unless you're using IGP.

 

[Megatomic]

It only adds a modest boost in non-IGP situations. But if it's there why not use it?

 

[myocardia]

Psada did some tests recently concerning dual-channel vs. single-channel with Athlon XP's and the gain was as high as 1.5% and as low as about -.9%. So, the answer to your question is not at all.

 

[Shimmishim]

yup, this is an age old question...

there really is no gain... unless you're using integrated graphics..

 

[pspada]

Pspada, actually. But the tests were not dual channel vs single channel, but rather to test if the ram needs to be "balanced" between the channels. For example 2 256Mb chips in channel 0 with 1 512Mb chip in channel 1 compared to 1 512 and 1 256 in channel 0 with 1 256 in channel 1. And there was very little difference between the performance in either case.

However, dual channel vs single channel - I got between ~2.5 and ~7.5 percent increased performance when running in dual channel as opposed to single channel, depending on what I was doing, of course.

 

[RussianSensation]

Yeah i was saying in dual channel vs. single channel mode as in having 1 512 stick vs. buying 2x256 sticks. I can save $10 which buys me a better heatsink so i can overclock more instead of getting 2 256 sticks. So I was wondering what the performance drop would be like. My primary concern is games, office apps, and SETI@Home performance to a degree.

 

[Megatomic]

Buying one 512MB stick would be the best thing to do right now. Plus, that leaves you open to buying another 512MB stick in the future and having 1GB of RAM in DCDDR mode.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
Buying one 512MB stick would be the best thing to do right now. Plus, that leaves you open to buying another 512MB stick in the future and having 1GB of RAM in DCDDR mode.

That's what I did.

 

[n7]

Same here