2x512 sticks or 1x1GB stick?

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Nealoc187

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #1

I'm getting an old system back up and running and the last thing I need is RAM.

Parts are:
Asus A7N8X
Athlon XP 2500+
Silverstone ST56ZF power supply
ATI X850Pro 256mb

The system will be used for mild gaming in BF2 and other games like it, I don't need crazy resolution so this system will suffice. It MAY see a mild OC but since I've never OC'd before, it will be mild.

I was reading the stickies and have decided to go with PC3200, and I want to spend in the $100-125 range. In the stickies this particular ram was suggested:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146532

Is there any reason to get 1 x 1GB stick instead of a paired 2 x 512 sticks?

Any other ram that you guys might say is significantly better in this price range $100-125, for a stock or mild OC on an old system?

 

T

Tygart

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #2

I think it be better to have 2 512MB sticks so you can run it in Dual Channel!!
(RIGHT?)

 

tuskenraider

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #3

Is there any reason to get 1 x 1GB stick instead of a paired 2 x 512 sticks?

Click to expand...

Not, unless you plan on adding another 1GB to use in dual channel mode.

Any other ram that you guys might say is significantly better in this price range $100-125, for a stock or mild OC on an old system?

Click to expand...

The stick you referenced had a CAS3 rating. Get memory with a rating of CAS2, which is better performance wise and easy to find in 2x512MB sets.

Some recommendations:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144114
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820148007
Shameless plug: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=486563

 

Last edited: Dec 4, 2006

OP

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Nealoc187

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• Dec 4, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #4

That last link you posted tusken - it says I don't have permission to access that page.

thankyou for the advice guys, this n00b appreciates it.

 

archangelgabe

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #5

Basically

2x512 > 1x1GB

2x1GB < 4x512

Because have 2 or 4 512s allows for more connections and you can run them in dual channel as said before.

 

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mcoleg

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #6

dual channel would be better (2 sticks) but keep in mind - 2gb is pretty much standard by now. funny enough, bf2 is the game that made systems with 2gb of ram popular.

to get to 2gb you can have 512 x 4 sticks or 1024 x 2 sticks. 4x configuration is somewhat harder to overclock and i don't think your board likes asynchronous speeds for fsb and ram much.

 

wannaoc

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #7

For gaming like BF:2 and the like I would go with 2x1024 but if you are set on going with 1 gig go 2x512. Duel channel gives a little speed jump on AMD XP systems.

 

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Tygart

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #8

to get to 2gb you can have 512 x 4 sticks or 1024 x 2 sticks. 4x configuration is somewhat harder to overclock and i don't think your board likes asynchronous speeds for fsb and ram much.

Click to expand...

mcoleg also if you have 4 sticks (4x512) you can't run it in Dual channel right?

 

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mcoleg

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #9

you sure can. it will run dual channel with 4 sticks.

 

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Tygart

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #10

Ok I must be thinking of old technology

 

tuskenraider

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #11

mcoleg also if you have 4 sticks (4x512) you can't run it in Dual channel right?

Click to expand...

The thing you can't do with the 4 sticks is run a faster 1T command rate with the memory.

 

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mcoleg

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• Dec 4, 2006

• #12

Tygart, could be...

tuskenraider, hard but not impossible - at low enough memory speed. if it's on intel, it doesn't matter anyways.

 

guppie

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• Dec 6, 2006

• #13

archangelgabe said:

Basically

2x512 > 1x1GB

2x1GB < 4x512

Because have 2 or 4 512s allows for more connections and you can run them in dual channel as said before.

Click to expand...

I was thinking of bumping my system up with 2GB. Let me get this straight, since I currently have 2x512MB, I'm better off getting another 2x512MB? Also, how do I know if my mobo is taking advantage of Dual Channel? Is that auto? Having all 4 RAM slots occupied will still allow for Dual Channel? As I only use a modest 10% OC (use the ASUS "auto settings"), do I have to alter any other settings in terms of RAM timings or bus speeds or what not?

Thanks in advance

 

OP

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Nealoc187

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• Dec 6, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #14

I have another question, I ended up purchasing 2x 512s. My mobo only has 3 slots. If I decide to up it to 2GB in the future, would i be completely retarded to buy a 1GB stick and run it with my 2x 512s, since it wouldn't allow for dual channel? Would I see any improvement by doing that, or would I be wasting money.

 

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mcoleg

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• Dec 6, 2006

• #15

no man, it's us who are retarded

nForce 2 chipset uses dual channel in a different configuration than the modern stuff.

you can use 1gb + 2c512mb and have dual channel. it's just been so long ago we forgot...

just make sure you know which slots to put the sticks in to get dual channel. put them in wrong slots and you'd be running single and not know it.