ONE Stick or TWO? Ram dilemna

[Buzz65]

I'm building a new system based on the MSI Neo2 FISR2 board. While searching for compatible ram I've come to the conclusion that I'm fairly LOST. I've built systems in the past but now I'm not sure what's better?

I plan on only having 512megs of ram for now. Do I just stick in a good PC3200 stick of 512? OR....Do I get a matched pair of 256 sticks????



Some help here will be greatly appreciated!



Thanks

 

[Viper96720]

One good 512 now and another one later.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
One good 512 now and another one later.

i disagree

there is a good amount of performance loss when not running in dual channel with intel

get 2*256

 

[nrgonline]

Dual DDR is about 10% more performance.

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: nrgonline
Dual DDR is about 10% more performance.

Wrong.

On AMD nForce2 based systems, without onboard graphics, it will be about 5% increase. With onboard graphics, the increase is much more, as one stick of ram can be "dedicated" to the IGP (not exactly, but so to speak)

With P4 based systems, Dual Channel DDR helps GREATLY. P4s are bandwidth starved anyway, and need all they can get Hence, dual channel DDR on a P4 system will make a LOT of difference

So, single if running a nForce2 board with onboard graphics, or a P4 board, then get 2 sticks, else a single stick.


Confused

 

[WobbleWobble]

I agree with what Confused said, except I think that 5% number is a bit generous. Average I'd say 0-2%, closer to the 0% side.

 

[adams828]

p4: dual channel ram = must have
nforce2: dual channel ram = no big deal

 

[CraigRT]

I started off with dual channel on my NForce2 setup, but when I wanted more RAM, I added another stick instead of taking out the current 2 and had 3 sticks, the performance was right on what it was before... I am now back running dual channel, but it made no difference for that while that I was not.

 

[Bonesdad]

I'd get 1x512 now...you can look forward to another upgrade in a few months...small as it might be. 1GB RAM is the coming standard...but not right away.

 

[Breezie]

i have the same exact mobo (the neo2) - i had 1 stick of 512mb and it ran FINE with my 3.0 cpu... i bought another 512mb and it ran fine (of course faster) as well so just get one- you're not losing much by giving yourself the chance to upgrade later! btw if you get high performance ram, set your voltage to 2.7 if its buggy ^_^

 

[LED]

1 now, 1 later, Exception would be NForce w/G and Intel