What should I do...

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
12,974
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I have two 512 sticks in my mobo right now. I want 2 gigs total. Should I get a single gigabyte stick (to run in single channel) or two more 512 sticks and run at 2T? Which is the biggest performance hit? Additionally if I do get the 1 GB stick, my current 512s will still run in dual channel at full speed, right? Though I think I know what's going on, memory isn't my forte so if someone could explain what happens if I put in 4x512 sticks, that would be appreciated. I have to set command rate to 2T to get 4x512 sticks, correct? I have a Winchester 90nm 3500+ CPU.

Edit: added poll
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
With four sticks you will have to run DDR333 and 2T, but that is better than running mis matched sticks. The best option would be to sell the 2 x 512, and buy 2 x 1024, Patriot makes 1024 sticks with 2-3-2-5 timings for $113 at newegg, they don't overclock well, but thats OK just run a divider and keep them at 200mhz or less at 1T it will still be faster than 4 x 512 2T

The bottom line is memory bandwidth doesn't mean much on A64's, so if its cheaper for you to go 4 x 512, you won't notice much of a difference.
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
81
Does the efficiency of Windows XP's memory management go down as one's computer memory approaches the 4GB threshold?
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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71
ahh..wow..ok so you guys think the benefit of running dual channel 512 sticks in my last RAM sockets will outweigh the fact I have to run all my RAM at DDR333 and 2T? either 2x512 value or 1gb value is cheap enough for me, so which one gives me 1% more performance? are there any benchmarks on this matter?
 

theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
4,386
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yeah, if they are duoble sided, which almost all 512mb sticks are, you will have to run ddr333 2t. i would get the 1gb stick.
 

MADMAX23

Senior member
Apr 22, 2005
527
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I would sell the two 512Mb Ram sticks and buy two 1Gb ram sticks or buy two more 512 Mb sticks.
 

l Xes l

Banned
Feb 3, 2005
3,459
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Originally posted by: MADMAX23
I would sell the two 512Mb Ram sticks and buy two 1Gb ram sticks or buy two more 512 Mb sticks.


ok max... i got a question for u..

This is true or false question.
True or False?
 

MADMAX23

Senior member
Apr 22, 2005
527
0
0
Originally posted by: krnxpride83
Originally posted by: MADMAX23
I would sell the two 512Mb Ram sticks and buy two 1Gb ram sticks or buy two more 512 Mb sticks.


ok max... i got a question for u..

This is true or false question.
True or False?

??????????