What's better...2x2Gigs or 4x1Gig?

[weber1557]

Hi guys...

I want to put 4 gigs of memory on my new P35 board (DDR2). I already know I won't have use of some of it due to my 32 bit OS but oh well.

My question is, should I buy a pair of 2 gig modules or 2 pairs of 1 gig modules?

The later would be a little cheaper and would allow me to send back one pair if one went bad but still have the use of my computer. However, I've been hearing that filling all 4 slots sometimes gives people problems.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about which brand of DDR2 memory is most reliable? It's going into a Gigabyte P35 DS3L.

 

[imported_wired247]

2x2 generally maximizes stability, especially sticks that have been tested together.

If you aren't overclocking at all, or not pushing the system to the limits, chances are you'll be fine with 4x1.

 

[taltamir]

2x2GB is more stable, takes less power, overclocks better, less likely to have compatibility issues, and leaves you with empty slots to upgrade later if needed.

also, most RAM comes with mail in rebates, those are limited to 1 per customer, per product, per household, per blah blah...

Basically if you buy two packs of 2x1GB then you are gonna get only ONE MIR of the two.

 

[DSF]

Another vote for 2x2GB.

I've got a P35-DS3L with 2 2GB sticks of the Super Talent stuff from the Hot Deals section. No issues whatsoever.

 

[Tweakin]

Yet another vote for 2x2GB...I just did the same thing and went with the G. Skill on sale at the Egg.

 

[Quiksilver]

2x2GB is.

 

[M1A]

I also like my 2x2 but I am not sure you can make a blanket statement that 2x2 will overclock better taltamir. I have been seeing the opposite in posts here. That is in general as its hard to tell unless you would be able to take the exact same chips from a 4 (1x1) and put them on a 2x2 pcb. All chips are a bit different correct?

 

[Yellowbeard]

With the newer PC8500 speeds in 2 x 2gb you OC pretty much any CPU to its max speed. 2 x 2gb all the way.

 

[boybleu]

i have a similar, although a tad more technical question (not by much)


my question is 4 or 8. 2x2 in 1066 or 4 x 2 which will require me to dumb it down to 800 because..... motherboard makers are stupid is the only answer i can come up with...


what do you guys think? my main goal is to play crysis, although it certainly wont take up the bulk of my computer usage, it will be the most demanding app i anticipate right now.

 

[Soundmanred]

I'm running 4 sticks of the G Skill PC-800 on the IP35-E and it overclocks great!

 

[Sylvanas]

2x2GB....less voltage required to run decent speeds in general, great OC's, less components to go wrong, less stress on MCH. The end.

 

[fire400]

why the fvck is everyone stealing sh!t from my sig... losers.

anyway, patriot ram at mwave is 110 bucks, rated 4-4-4-12 @ DDR800

1x4GB

now that is pure ownage on an x38 chipset with a quadcore.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: fire400
why the fvck is everyone stealing sh!t from my sig... losers.

IDK if that was aimed at me cause we both have the alternate characters in our sigs, but I'd like to point out that my AT account it older than yours so technically mine came first.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: fire400
why the fvck is everyone stealing sh!t from my sig... losers.

anyway, patriot ram at mwave is 110 bucks, rated 4-4-4-12 @ DDR800

1x4GB

now that is pure ownage on an x38 chipset with a quadcore.

That isn't much different from DDR2-1000/5-5-5 with 2x2GB. Now, if you can pull out DDR2-1000/CL4 with 1x4GB then that's something.

 

[weber1557]

OK, thanks guys...I guess the general concensus is to go 2x2.
My only issue is (and I've posted this in another thread) if I have to RMA the kit for some reason, I'll be dead in the water...unless I also buy some cheap backup ram to use while I wait for the replacement.
What's the minimum to run Vista 32?

 

[Zap]

I think with the A64 IMC running fewer modules was better for various reasons, but on the Intel side I haven't seen anything proven either way.

Example: My gaming rig uses four OCZ Reaper HPC 1GB modules on an Asus P5K-VM board. The OCZ is rated 800MHz CAS 4 at 2.2v. I currently have them running CAS 4 at 2.1v (BIOS limitation) at around 840MHz, and I've had them running almost 870MHz at the same voltage/latency (Memtest passed, Orthos failed).

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: fire400
why the fvck is everyone stealing sh!t from my sig... losers.

anyway, patriot ram at mwave is 110 bucks, rated 4-4-4-12 @ DDR800

1x4GB

now that is pure ownage on an x38 chipset with a quadcore.

EDIT: Actually thats just 4x1GB written backwards. I looked it up. It is FAR from ownage.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227280
Way better choice

Originally posted by: boybleu
i have a similar, although a tad more technical question (not by much)


my question is 4 or 8. 2x2 in 1066 or 4 x 2 which will require me to dumb it down to 800 because..... motherboard makers are stupid is the only answer i can come up with...


what do you guys think? my main goal is to play crysis, although it certainly wont take up the bulk of my computer usage, it will be the most demanding app i anticipate right now.

As far as I know crysis doesn't need more then 4GB. But if it DID then having more ram IS ALWAYS better then having FASTER ram as long as you are in a scenario where more ram is useful

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: fire400
why the fvck is everyone stealing sh!t from my sig... losers.

anyway, patriot ram at mwave is 110 bucks, rated 4-4-4-12 @ DDR800

1x4GB

now that is pure ownage on an x38 chipset with a quadcore.

-firstly, nobody is out to copy "sh!t" from your signature.
-anyway, 4 x 1gb is not the way when an alternative is 2 x 2gb.. you're pretty much wrong here...
-having an x38 or a quadcore doesn't have anything to do with ram setups as many intel, AMD, nvidia chipsets, dual core or single core setups can use 4gb of ram

 

[blanketyblank]

Minimum for vista is probably 1 gig (well maybe 512 will "run" but it will be horrible). I think you would want 2 gigs to run well. I don't think more than that is much better, but it probably doesn't hurt and it is pretty cheap.