Ram Question

[Soujiroh]

I have a dell dimension 4700. Currently, I'm running 2X256 ddr2. I was thining about adding 1 more gig of ram into the system. Is it recommended to put 2X512 or should I just grab a 1X1 gig stick? I'm debating between these:

1 gig stick

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...de=M&Product_Code=140696&AFFIL=TH&NR=1


2x512

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227006

All responses are welcome. Thanks!

Dell Dimension 4700
Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz
2x256 ddr2
eVga 6600gt pci-e
80gig sata

 

[Bobthelost]

2x512 will be faster/better/cheaper, but 1x1024 means you can upgrade easier.

 

[V00D00]

Currently it has 2 sticks because it's probably running in dual channel. Dual channel is loads faster than single channel theoretically. (simple benchmarks in my sig) You should add memory in pairs if possible.

 

[zest]

For Dell Viking & , Transcend memory is 100% compatible..
Choose 1 of these:http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...Price=&SubCategory=147&Submit=Property

 

[stevty2889]

Definatly want 2x512mb sticks over 1x1gb stick. P4's are very bandwidth hungry, so running single channel is a pretty big performance hit.

 

[Soujiroh]

Think the corsairs I listed above is compatiable with the dell? On corsair's website, it doesn't list anything about being compatiable with the dell. Thanks!

 

[zest]

Even despite the limited bandwidth of the processor bus which is no higher than the bandwidth of DDR2-533 SDRAM with Pentium 4 systems.


In t esting a range of chipsets running at a constant 3.6GHz with low latency memory at DDR2-533, DDR2-667, and DDR2-800. We can only conclude from this tight clustering of General Performance benchmarks that memory speed makes very little difference in the performance of standard desktop office applications and content creation on these Intel chipsets.
PCMark2004 also shows a very small improvement as we move from fast 533 to fast 667 to fast DDR2-800 memory. Auto GK encoding scores also show a tight clustering of performance. If these are the applications that you run on your computer, the added DDR2 memory speed of the 955X//nF4-SLI Intel will not provide much boost to your performance.

Installing faster DDR2 DIMMs isn't cost justifiable, and even gung-ho gamers will find that the extra money pays better dividends if invested in a high-end graphics card.