Quick RAM upgrade question

[LeetestUnleet]

I'm running an Asus A7N8X Deluxe with an Athlon XP 2500 Barton, and 512MB of Mushkin PC3200 L.I RAM. I've got some money to spend on a memory upgrade, and I'm at three options:

My current RAM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-219&depa=1

1.) I could purchase one more stick of this and run in dual channel (1GB matched total)
2.) I could purchase two more sticks and run single channel (can't run dual channel with 3 sticks, can I?) (1.5GB matched total)
3.) I could purchase one stick of LII Mushkin PC3200 RAM and mix it with my current stick, and try running dual channel (1GB mismatched total)

Thoughts?

 

[LeetestUnleet]

*bump*

No thoughts?

:edit:
OR, another option, instead of a memory upgrade, would be to purchase another 160GB Seagate SATA drive and run them in RAID 0. Which would give me the best performance increase?

 

[ArnoldLayne]

Just get another matching stick of RAM. I personally think RAID 0 is not worth the complexity or the increased risk of failure.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Any other opinions?

 

[ribbon13]

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4292564

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Get another 512 stick to have 1 gig total. Get something that matches what you already have.

Don't do RAID.

 

[Blain]

Setup a RAID 0 DDR array... get another Mushkin stick, and go about your business.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Get another 512 stick to have 1 gig total. Get something that matches what you already have.

Don't do RAID.

The stick I linked to is what I already have in there occupying one of three banks. I have two banks empty. I was just wondering if I'd be better off running 2x512 in dual channel or 3x512 in single channel, or trying 2x512 with one being of higher quality than the other in possible dual channel.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: LeetestUnleet
I'm running an Asus A7N8X Deluxe with an Athlon XP 2500 Barton, and 512MB of Mushkin PC3200 L.I RAM. I've got some money to spend on a memory upgrade, and I'm at three options:

My current RAM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-219&depa=1

1.) I could purchase one more stick of this and run in dual channel (1GB matched total)
2.) I could purchase two more sticks and run single channel (l with can't run dual channel with 3 sticks, can I?) (1.5GB matched total)
3.) I could purchase one stick of LII Mushkin PC3200 RAM and mix it with my current stick, and try running dual channel (1GB mismatched total)

Thoughts?

I have three sticks of RAM and my MB still says "Dual Channel Enabled" at every startup, CPUZ confirms this. I could be wrong, but maybe it is possible to run dual channel on two sticks and single channel on another at the same time.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

I've never seen anywhere saying I CAN'T do that, but I've never seen anywhere saying I CAN, either...

 

[ribbon13]

3 sticks on nF2 == dual channel as long as their the same size I do believe

 

[SlitheryDee]

Yeah, all mine are 256mb. I assumed that I was only running 2 in dual channel though.

 

[andy nowotny]

I suggest you should get a 1GB DDR400 module for single (Athlon XP need not double channel), then sell your present 512mb

 

[ironique]

Get another stick of 512MB. There is a noticable difference between 512MB and 1GB of RAM, but far less noticable between 1GB and 1.5GB (unless you regularly use serious rendering and videoediting software). Your board has dual channel capabilities, use it! No point in having technology and not using it. I doubt raid 0 will give you as much performance gain as the extra 512MB would.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Okay, that's what I was leaning towards I just wanted a second (and third, fourth, etc) opinion. Opinions seem to be strongly in favor of one more stick of matching 512, so that's what I'll do. Thanks everyone!