Is one stick or RAM a good idea?

[zainali]

I am building a new computer and am using an Epox 8RGA+ and a 2500 barton.
how much difference would it make if i get one 512 mb pc2700 stick vs two 256 ones?.

gonna get crucial ram.

 

[mechBgon]

Welcome to the Forums zainali 😀

The onboard video will run 3D games and 3D applications much better if you have two (or three) sticks of memory. Here are some benchmarks to help quantify it: AnandTech's benchmark results comparing dual-channel to single-channel

In the bigger picture, using a budget add-in video card still gets higher performance in gaming: Benchmarks and some more from the next page. Of course, the integrated graphics don't cost as much as a Radeon 9000 Pro, even counting the cost of getting multiple memory modules.

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: zainali
I am building a new computer and am using an Epox 8RGA+ and a 2500 barton.
how much difference would it make if i get one 512 mb pc2700 stick vs two 256 ones?.

gonna get crucial ram.

Crucial RAM is a bad idea on nForce2. There are problems with certain revisions. Crucial's RMA dept. is good though.

Like Mech said, if you are using the onboard video, which most likel you are, then you will see a 100% improvement in video performance with dual channel RAM. It will affect little else, though. Keep in mind that the onboard video is nothing to right home about. With 1 stick, you're probably looking at 2000 3dMark01 points. With 2 sticks, maybe 4000 points.

 

[bocamojo]

For that system, I would suggest going with a 256MB stick, and putting some money into a budget 3d card. That should do for a decent budget system.