Which Memory Install will be faster?

[Bob151]

I have 3 512MB DDR2700s. My new system will, of course, need to be powerful for gaming. I would like to avoid buying more memory (DDR3200), I have enough.

Which scenario would be best?

Thanks

 

[Schadenfroh]

is your system using integrated graphics?

 

[Mik3y]

wut kind of system will you have? amd? intel? which socket? we need more info. you lose about 5-10% in memory performance when utilizing pc2700 and lower on systems with a 200Mhz bus, but dual channel adds 5-15% in memory performance depending on whcih cpu you use.

 

[Bob151]

I'm still shopping around. I like the P4 as I have been pleased with my 1.8A, I like how I don't have the heat issues I read about AMD when I bought this P4 way back.

I'm getting a new system because I'm going to dedicate my current one to MythTV with a PVR-250. Soo, I need a new gaming system.

The ATI9800(Pro?)-128 will be going onto the new mobo, so I'll have a reasonably respectable video card. I'll put some old nvidia GF3 in the linux system.

I'm think of getting an ASUS, ABIT, or MSI P4 board with 2.8 or so P4. I don't even know wich P4 I should get yet either.

But, I'm trying to save some bucks, if this system will still be reasonable powerfull in dual-channel mode, I'll try to avoid spending more money.

Thanks.

 

[Budman]

If you're going P4 then dual channel pc2700 will be faster than 1 stick at pc3200.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Pentium 4's can take advantage of the extra bandwidth (4.8gb) much more than the AXP's can. Not to say that the AXP's dont benefit from dual channel or anything because they do just not as much as Intel. To tell the truth i would stay away from 2700 now because running your ram out of sync with your processor kills performance.

Get value RAM if you dont want to spend the money but definately get dual channel 3200. Or i guess you could get 2700 and OC it.

-Kevin

 

[oldfart]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Pentium 4's can take advantage of the extra bandwidth (4.8gb) much more than the AXP's can. Not to say that the AXP's dont benefit from dual channel or anything because they do just not as much as Intel.

Correct up till this point

To tell the truth i would stay away from 2700 now because running your ram out of sync with your processor kills performance.

Running the ram with a ratio does not kill performance. The difference is very small.

 

[Gamingphreek]

The difference is not small. It isn't too terribly large but it is noticable.

-Kevin

 

[oldfart]

Not according to the benches I and many other people have run. If you run a ratio, you can usually run tighter timings, which evens it out. There are cases where 1:1 loose timings are slower than 5:4 tight timings. There are a lot of variables, such as type of ram, mobo, FSB, etc. In any case, you are talking about a percent or two one way or the other. Not a big deal.