RAM upgrade

[Zimdesign]

I want to add another gig of DDR2 to my E6300 rig. My motherboard has 4 slots and 2 are currently occupied by a kit of 2X512MB sticks. I am wondering if I should purchase another kit and fill out my remaining slots (to stay in dual channel) or save a few bucks and get a single stick of 1GB.

 

[Zimdesign]

Can anyone voice their opinion on this for me? I am leaning towards picking up the cheapest name brand 1GB stick I can find locally.

 

[trOver]

depends on what you are doing,


if you are doing things that TAKE a lot of ram but dont really USE it, when go w/ the 1gb stick


if you are using the ram to do lots of in/out types of things (games) then get another 512x2 kit to keep the dual channal.

 

[Noubourne]

Originally posted by: trOver
depends on what you are doing,


if you are doing things that TAKE a lot of ram but dont really USE it, when go w/ the 1gb stick


if you are using the ram to do lots of in/out types of things (games) then get another 512x2 kit to keep the dual channal.

I'd say do 2x512. Losing dual-channel isn't going to help you - you'll have the same bandwidth after adding 1GB to 2x512 as you have right now (removing dual channel halves the bandwidth of your 2x512). Either stay in d/c mode, or just don't bother.

Depending on what you're doing, it might be a huge waste of cash though. Do you spend a lot of time in games that require 2GB? Not many apps require that.

 

[Zimdesign]

I am currently playing Civilization IV: Warlords, Neverwinter Nights 2 and Battlefield 2142. Looking forward to Hellgate: London and Crysis.

 

[trOver]

w/ bf2142, you will most likly use the extra gig. So, i would say get the 2x512, and have a total of 4x512 dual channal. (2x512)x2