What configuration would run best on DELL laptop?

[Questi4110]

I just got a DELL laptop and I am debating whether to upgrade the RAM on the unit.

The laptop comes with two Hynix 512 MB PC2-5300 (667 Mhz) chips.

I bought a Crucial 1 GB PC2-5300 chip.

The problem is that there are only two slots for memory on the laptop so I would have to replace one of the 512 MB chips with my crucial 1 GB one.

Would it be advantageous to leave both the 512 MB in there so they can act together (dual channel) or put the bought 1 GB one in?


THANKS

 

[Questi4110]

bump

 

[JustaGeek]

Check if your memory is actually running in Dual Channel. I might be wrong, but not too many chipsets in laptops do. Verify with CPU-Z or equivalent.

If it does, it's a bit better for about a few percent of overall system performance advantage (bandwith is greater by about 50%).

In general - 1.5GB in single channel, especially with Vista, is better than 1GB in dual channel.

 

[Questi4110]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Check if your memory is actually running in Dual Channel. I might be wrong, but not too many chipsets in laptops do. Verify with CPU-Z or equivalent.

If it does, it's a bit better for about a few percent of overall system performance advantage (bandwith is greater by about 50%).

In general - 1.5GB in single channel, especially with Vista, is better than 1GB in dual channel.

Thanks, will do.

 

[Questi4110]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Check if your memory is actually running in Dual Channel. I might be wrong, but not too many chipsets in laptops do. Verify with CPU-Z or equivalent.

If it does, it's a bit better for about a few percent of overall system performance advantage (bandwith is greater by about 50%).

In general - 1.5GB in single channel, especially with Vista, is better than 1GB in dual channel.

Ok, I checked and it is dual channel. Can anyone confirm that 1 GB dual channel is faster than 1.5 GB not dual channel?

Also, I would like to test it out myself...what is the best benchmarking program that will help me test out the differences in the two setups?


THANKS

 

[ryderOCZ]

Bad Information...sorry.

 

[JustaGeek]

SANDRA LITE XI.

You can test the memory bandwidth.

But then run PCMark05 to check the overall system performance.

The bandwidth difference might be 50%, but the system only a few %.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: ryderOCZ
You would still be running Dual Channel, you would have 2 ram modules installed. They do not have to be the same size to run Dual Channel.

You will be running 2 different densities, so the interleaving will only be running at the equivalent of having 2x512 installed, but you will have 1.5GB of ram in Dual Channel.

So you don't need two identical modules to take advantage of 128-bit addressing in Dual Channel anymore...?

When did that happen...?

 

[ryderOCZ]

Your right...sorry, it would only work with 4 modules, which you can't have in a laptop.

My bad, I shouldn't have answered this so late.

1.5GB in Single should still outperform 1GB in Dual, IF you have applications that need more ram.