Which To Use(NFORCE2 w/IGP): Slower RAM In Dual Channel Mode, or Faster RAM Running Solo?

[gregor7777]

Here's the contenders:

(2) x 256MB Crucial PC2100 DDR 2.5 (running in dual channel mode)

vs.

(1) 512MB Samsung PC3200 DDR 2.5 (running solo obviously)

in the following system

Chaintech 7NIF2 NFORCE2 w/IGP
AMD 2000+ XP TBRED (hopefully b)

Will be using onboard graphics and playing some minor 3d games. Which RAM will you think will be faster without taking overclocking into consideration?

I appreciate your advice on the matter.

 

[Corporate Thug]

onboard graphics benefits A LOT from dual channel, i would get the slower one and run it in DC

 

[mechBgon]

You should have your RAM running synchronously with your CPU's FSB regardless nForce2 will give better system performance that way, although one might make an exception for the special case where you're gaming with the onboard video of an nF2 IGP board.

 

[gregor7777]

onboard graphics benefits A LOT from dual channel, i would get the slower one and run it in DC

You should have your RAM running synchronously with your CPU's FSB regardless nForce2 will give better system performance that way, although one might make an exception for the special case where you're gaming with the onboard video of an nF2 IGP board.

Thanks for the input guys. I read a few reviews which show the bigtime difference in performance with IGP and dualchannel compared to IGP and single channel.

Mech, your saying that since my chip is 266 that I should run with 266 sync rather than 266/333? It's a nobrainer in that case then, I would just use the PC2100.

I will be using the onboard graphics and would like acceptable framerates with UT2003, which it seems I would only get with going dual channel.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: gregor7777
Thanks for the input guys. I read a few reviews which show the bigtime difference in performance with IGP and dualchannel compared to IGP and single channel.

Mech, your saying that since my chip is 266 that I should run with 266 sync rather than 266/333? It's a nobrainer in that case then, I would just use the PC2100.

I will be using the onboard graphics and would like acceptable framerates with UT2003, which it seems I would only get with going dual channel.

I don't know about Mech, but Merc sure feels that way.

Run the PC2100 (if you haven't bought it already, try to get CAS2) in DC mode if you want to have any prayer of running UT2K3 at acceptable FPS.

- M4H

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: gregor7777
Thanks for the input guys. I read a few reviews which show the bigtime difference in performance with IGP and dualchannel compared to IGP and single channel.

Mech, your saying that since my chip is 266 that I should run with 266 sync rather than 266/333? It's a nobrainer in that case then, I would just use the PC2100.

I will be using the onboard graphics and would like acceptable framerates with UT2003, which it seems I would only get with going dual channel.

I don't know about Mech, but Merc sure feels that way.

Run the PC2100 (if you haven't bought it already, try to get CAS2) in DC mode if you want to have any prayer of running UT2K3 at acceptable FPS.

- M4H

I have already bought all of the parts for the three systems I building, but luckily the Crucial PC2100 has been in my main rig at CAS 2 for the longest time, even though it's rated at 2.5.

Looks like that is the best choice given the use of the IGP.

 

[gregor7777]

Then again, I may just overclock the snot out of the whole system.

 

[bjc112]

Not with that 2100...

You might be better of to scoup up a 8500 LE for like $75...

That way you will actually GET frames in UT2003

 

[mechBgon]

Bigger :camera:: You could spend under $50 for a GeForce4MX 440 like this AOpen and get better framerate, plus have that much more system RAM free too. Anand's benchmark results with nF2 dual-channel IGP versus a discrete GF4MX 440

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: bjc112
Not with that 2100...

You might be better of to scoup up a 8500 LE for like $75...

That way you will actually GET frames in UT2003

Review of UT perf. w/IGP looks acceptable, but with faster RAM


Will that 2100 pull it down that much you think?

EDIT: Actually on closer inspection, those framerates suck at decent res. Oh well...

 

[gregor7777]

It's for my pops, maybe I'll extoll to him the virtues of gaming at 800 x 600.

 

[chilled]

My Crucial PC2100 CAS2.5 does PC2700 CAS2 just fine on my nForce2 board.

I say get the Crucial and run it at 333Mhz.

 

[Regs]

I do remember Anand stating in high memory bandwidth tasks, duel channel takes the cake easily. An example of a high memory bandwidth task... I do not know.

 

[FishTankX]

One consideration you might not have thought about yet is..

PC2100 will limit you to 266MHZ FSB, period. While PC3200 will not. PC3200 will give you *much* more overclocking headroom. Ofcourse, your board might have memory dividers, but even if it does I still reccomend using the PC3200 as you can always add a stick in the future and get uber speed, for relativley cheap. PC3200 gives you much more headroom for upgrading. Espically if you use one of those Ultra400 boards (Headroom upto 3000+)