512MB RAM in one stick or two?

[milad_sm]

SHould I buy one 512MB stick, or 2 256MB sticks?
Why?

[Ifishsum]

I think 2X256 would be better. When I bought my PC150, the 256 sticks were rated cas2 and the 512 sticks were cas3. Of course, this all depends on the manufacture, ie one 512MB stick of quality memory would be better then 2X256MB of cheap memory but all things the same, I'd go with the 256s

[Crash893]

im not a real memory expert but i would say 512 beucase if you ever want to put something in the second slot then you dont have to have a 256 on the sidelines to make room for it

just my thoughts

[milad_sm]

so it all depends on the specs..
i think the same way as crash893...and i'd reserve the slots for future upgrades...

i read somewhere that two sticks were better...i still wonder why.

[radadman]

Originally posted by milad_sm
SHould I buy one 512MB stick, or 2 256MB sticks?
Why?

Get 2 sticks of 256m if you want the highest fsb. Get 1 stick of 512m if you don't care about overclocking.

[Crash893]

2 sticks has twice the contacts with the mother board

could that have somethign to do with the extra speed

[Beelzebub]

2 sticks may have more contact area, but does that really matter?

I mean, can't the system only handle so much from the memory at one time? I thought it was like an hourglass... only so much information can be taken from the memory, regardless of how much 'sand' is above the hole.

Kind of a lame analogy, but hopefully you know what I mean. Does this sound right, or am I talking outta my ars?

I would always go with the 512 over a smaller size. Then again, how long are you going to use it before moving onto the next thing? Also, wouldnt 2 sticks generate 2x as much heat?

[ken257]

Many times you can't get memory in 512's that is as fast as 256's and smaller so I would recomend 2X256. Check the cl rating before you buy comparing the 512 against the 256, I bet the 256 will be better.

[Christoph]

Also, if one stick breaks and you've only got one, too bad for you. If you've got 256*2 and one dies, you'll just run a little slower.
Sorry that I can't say anything hardware-specific,

[Bmxpunk86pl]

one stick is faster

[milad_sm]

Beelzebub kinda convinced me with his hourglass example...
but then, it's the RAM that is slower that the CPU, which is using the RAM.
So, the hourglass hole might be widened if there is more RAM contacts....grrr...is this correct now?!
but i really think there is no difference, if they have the same speed...and CL.
it's just a matter of taking up slot space.

[Placid]

Its the memory density, 512mb is using 256mb per bank vs. 128mb per bank for 256mb memory.

Yes if the 512mb is rated the same as the 256 it should be able to run at the rated speed but the 2-256 will most certainly overclock past its rated speed higher than the 1-512.

[Big Mike]

I didn't see interleaving touched on so I'll drop it in, 2 sticks of double sided ram should allow for a 4 way interleave which improves performance, unless you see a serious need for more than 512mb in the future id just get the 2 256's, its ussually a good bit cheaper when you hit the 512/256 break, whereas 2 128s tend to be a bit more than 1 256

[Crash893]

Originally posted by IdeaMagnate
Also, if one stick breaks and you've only got one, too bad for you. If you've got 256*2 and one dies, you'll just run a little slower.
Sorry that I can't say anything hardware-specific,

your not thinking right then

he simply must buy 2*512:D

[Crash893]

what is interleaving

some one please explain i dont know to much about memory

but i was thinking how absolutly bitchin it would be to have 2*512 but in some sort of raid 0 setup where the cpu could read/write 2x as fast

just a thought

[Beelzebub]

I dont know about you, but isnt 2 512's kinda weak? :beer:

Dammit, you need 3 512's!!

[DManeKid]

maybe his board only has 2 dimm slots?

[milad_sm]

well i got 3 slots...

now that you mentioned, some time ago, i wanted to set up a video editting machine...well, it should have lotsa RAM!
can i find anything bigger than 512MB in the market? or do i have to order, or something?

what can i do, if i want more than 3x512MBs??

[Crash893]

i know they have gig 1024 ram but thats kinda pricey i think

some mother boards will only handel so much too ( most boards top out at about 2 gig if i recall)

just do 3*512

[pkipper]

2 x 256 is cheaper than getting 1 x 512.
Also, some people have trouble increasing the fsb with two sticks of ram, normally one stick is the best for oc.

[Crash893]

it would be intresting to see what gives more preformance boost

1.5 gigs of ram or overclocking ( usually a 29.5% increase in mhz )

[Starfoxer]

go with the 512 and save a slot

[Silver]

2 by 256 should oc on the fsb higher. 1 will even do better however the cas rating on the 256 is readily available at cas2 and this should overtake the one stick of 512 rather easily. Lower your cas to 2.5 and look at the hit. I think that you will be most happy with a couple of sticks of descent 256. If you want to go the 512 route then do it and you can purchase the 256 sticks later when you decide you want more speed. :D

Ask around here and I think you will find that when yuo really want to find out how high you can go on the fsb you go to 1 stick of quality 128/256 and move it around in the slots looking for that slot that will get you one more Mhz.

[puppet]

I agree with placid. Density is gonna hold ya back....the larger capacity modules have higher BGA density. They are gonna be more sensitive to higher clk rates.

[Cooler666]

just buy two 1Gb sticks, you won't have to worry about RAM for another 3 years, unless one of them breaks... :eek:

:cool:

[WeaponX]

If you want to oc get one stick of 512. If you're not gonna oc, get 2 sticks of 256. Simply rule :)

[Tismedt]

Crash893 wrote
what is interleaving

Check out the sticky at the top of memory subject. It explains a lot of stuff about mem settings and bios in general.

I believe you will get better preformance from 2 256 with interleave on. Cost is minimal going with 2 compared to 1. Check crucial.com. no shipping cost and you know its good stuff.

[Silver]

Originally posted by WeaponX
If you want to oc get one stick of 512. If you're not gonna oc, get 2 sticks of 256. Simply rule :)

Got that backwards, no?

[Keymaster]

One stick of the same spec RAM is potentially faster (and never slower) than two or more, as Bmxpunk86pl stated. The CPU does not have to fetch or store across the modules. BTW, more contacts just represents more points of resistance. The slots still have the same width bus.

The savings in slots also favors a larger module, and it may even be less than twice the cost of the 256MB module (then again it may not). Memory fails very rarely, and most good memory is sold with a lifetime guarentee. So having two smaller sticks is not much of an advantage.

[Mr. $T$]

1 512mb

[DAGO]

Technical considerations aside, my memory purchases are usually made in two steps...the first half when I can afford it, and the second half a bit later on...laying out 200 for memory is rough to manage, two increments of 100 is alot easier to do...

Besides, I haven't seen alot of Cas2 memory in 512 MB sticks...there is my FIRST consideration...

My 2 centavos...:D

EDIT: OK, I vote for TWO sticks of 256...:D

[Keymaster]

Certainly makes cents. ;) But I don't believe that was the reason milad_sm originally asked "SHould I buy one 512MB stick, or 2 256MB sticks? Why?". I assume he already knew whether he could afford both.

[WeaponX]

One stick of ram will let you oc more than 2 sticks of ram will

[MadMan007]

After [http://www.overclockers.com/articles559/]this[/url] front-page article, why do some people still insist that 2x256 is better for OC'ing?

EDITED WITH CORRECT LINK

[Lonyo]

i found 1 512 chip for about £5 less than 2x 256
(CAS 2.5) PC2100
(i'm getting to for the full 1GB

[Wedo]

Always plan ahead. 512MB sounds great now, but 1.5GB will be much better in a couple of years than 768MB (3x256MB).

Go for the 512.

Wedo

[himura-dono]

well, keep in mind some motherboards aren't chip packed compliant. a lot of cheaper brands of ram tend to do what someone told me is chip packing or chip stacking, my abit KR7A-133Raid can hold up to 4 gigs of ecc registered (the only ram i'll buy) but i'll probably end up with two sticks of 512 crucial 2100 and maybe if i can find a non-chip stacking stick of 1gig (i'm guessing there isn't a huge demand cause i've only seen kingston do it, i'd pay for crucial, it'd be worth it) for cheap (yeah right) i'll buy it and not need ram for oh....4-5 yrs. ^_^


i've got one stick coming, and eventhough i forgot to enter my coupon code, after emailing crucial, they're going ahead and reopening the order and apllying the coupon, THESE PEOPLE F-ING ROCK! i love crucial now...^_^

[Keymaster]

Crucial is the best vendor in the computer industry I've ever delt with, and that covers over 30 years. I purchased the wrong type RAM from them, and with no questions asked they told me to ship it back and it would be replaced. All it costs me for my mistake was return shipping. :cool:

[Placid]

Originally posted by MadMan007
After this (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/22/1019233308669.html) front-page article, why do some people still insist that 2x256 is better for OC'ing?

What does a supercomputer have to do with anything?

All I can say when a person who has worked for many years as a engineer in the memory field was asked this question he said 2-256mb sticks.
He said the memory density per bank is the main reason.

[MadMan007]

lol, placid, I must have copy-pasted the wrong link into my post :D

Anyway, I corrected it above and here it is again. Starting on March 29, Joe had a sequence of short articles, testing and reader response about singlevs multiple RAM sticks.

http://www.overclockers.com/articles559/

This is just the first one...

[Keymaster]

Good link MadMan007, this time. ;)

While it is more difficult to produce higher memory density chips, manufacturing technologies have improved succiently to produce these higher density chips successfully. If higher densisty was the only factor we should be considering 4x 128 MB modules as superior. The fact is the 256MB may simply be older technology chips. Brand name manufacturers like Crucial, which offer lifetime guarentees, would hardly be producing substandard chips, without the proper quality control. Soon there will be 2 GB chips, will they be less reliable? Keep in mind that while memory density of modules has increased so has overall RAM reliability.

[nikhsub1]

Originally posted by ken257
Many times you can't get memory in 512's that is as fast as 256's and smaller so I would recomend 2X256. Check the cl rating before you buy comparing the 512 against the 256, I bet the 256 will be better.

I run 1 stick of 512 XMS2700 rated CL2. Look at mem scores. I can get this to OVER 200FSB at Turbo settings but my Video card freaks out.

[Keymaster]

The issue raised by ken257 is not one of 512MB vs 2x 256MB, but CL2 vs. CL3. That is not an argument for favoring two sticks over one. I believe anyone who is recommending one 512MB over 2x 256MB sticks is implying "all other things being equal."

[Arctic]

1 stick of 512 DDR CL2 will run faster than 2 stick of 256 DDR CL2
as long as the CL are the same... the 1 stick will always run faster. Ocing wise.. you wont be able to tell much of a diff...maybe 1 or 2 fsb diff..

[Clevor]

I think a lot depends on whether you are talking about SDRAM or DDR! With SDRAM, it's a known fact 2 sticks do not overclock as well as one. But when you're talking 512 MB, that's unclear. I got a 512 MB stick KingMax PC-150 and it doesn't do over 150 2-2-2, which is what I can get with 2-256 MB sticks of Mushkin or Crucial.

On DDR, people say it doesn't make any difference, but if you ask me, you can't go wrong with 2-256 MB sticks because that's what people have been using all along until 512 MB sticks became available, and they have been hitting pretty high overclocks.

Also, if you hit a max overclock with 2 sticks, you can try to use one stick 256 and see how high you can get for bragging rights. It's pretty much a given one stick 128 MB will overclock better than one stick 256, so one stick 256 should do better than one stick 512. Then at least you can get some Sandra benches (which are not affected by how much MB you have).

Plus, if you're buying off some memory shootout review, they usually use 128-256 MB, so you can't say for sure if 512 MB of the same brand will do as well.

[Placid]

Originally posted by Keymaster
Good link MadMan007, this time. ;)

While it is more difficult to produce higher memory density chips, manufacturing technologies have improved succiently to produce these higher density chips successfully. If higher densisty was the only factor we should be considering 4x 128 MB modules as superior. The fact is the 256MB may simply be older technology chips. Brand name manufacturers like Crucial, which offer lifetime guarentees, would hardly be producing substandard chips, without the proper quality control. Soon there will be 2 GB chips, will they be less reliable? Keep in mind that while memory density of modules has increased so has overall RAM reliability.

Yes newer improved mfg technologies may make the difference.

2X128 was never considered as it has the same density per bank as a 256mb. 128mb per bank. In that case the extra physical memory slot makes 256 better.

[#18]

One stick of 512 has better performance than 2 stick of 256

ALWAYS


same for the rest

1x128 outperform 2x64
1x256 outperform 2x128
1x512 outperform 2x256
1x1024 outperform 2x512

ALWAYS

[Crash893]

Originally posted by pkipper
2 x 256 is cheaper than getting 1 x 512.
Also, some people have trouble increasing the fsb with two sticks of ram, normally one stick is the best for oc.

not really when you think about it

what if you have to add more later

one of thouse dimms has to sit on the bench

if you get a 512 you can add more later with out having to waste any

[Keymaster]

Originally posted by Clevor
I think a lot depends on whether you are talking about SDRAM or DDR! With SDRAM, it's a known fact 2 sticks do not overclock as well as one. But when you're talking 512 MB, that's unclear. I got a 512 MB stick KingMax PC-150 and it doesn't do over 150 2-2-2, which is what I can get with 2-256 MB sticks of Mushkin or Crucial.

On DDR, people say it doesn't make any difference, but if you ask me, you can't go wrong with 2-256 MB sticks because that's what people have been using all along until 512 MB sticks became available, and they have been hitting pretty high overclocks...



You have to compare apples to apples. Some RAM is more conservatively rated than others. Not sure what you're saying about the Mushkin and Crucial, are they PC150?

As for the DDR, what people have been using is not really a good predictor of new product capabilities. The same argument would have us sticking to SDR SDRAM.

[Clevor]

"You have to compare apples to apples. Some RAM is more conservatively rated than others. Not sure what you're saying about the Mushkin and Crucial, are they PC150?"

We sure are not talking apples and apples, the Mushkin and Crucial are in fact rated PC-133, 2-2-2, and they perform better than the KingMax rated at PC-150, 2-2-2. I bought the 512 MB KingMax because somebody claimed they did 158 2-2-2, but not in my hands.

Also, when it comes to RDRAM, all bets are off. Definitely the less sticks the better the overclock, but you can only compare 4 to 2, as they have to be used in pairs. In other words, 2 sticks 128 MB overclock higher than 4 sticks 128 MB. Also the more dense the stick (more modules), the hotter they run, so 2 sticks 256 MB do not overclock as well as 2 sticks 128 MB. Two sticks 512 MB is horrendous at overclocking. There may be another reason for this other than heat, but all I know is I tested 16 sticks. But that's RDRAM.

With DDR, it's not that clear. But the notion that 1 stick 512 MB is better so you can add another stick doesn't sell me. I feel you really don't need more than 512 MB ram, no matter how cheap it is. I found a significant difference between 256 and 384 MB, but hardly any going from 384 and 512, so I run 512 in all my 3 rigs. With 256 MB ram on the games nowadays, there is a lag or delay on exiting and returning back to the desktop, or I notice a stutter in one of the SS 2nd Encounter demos, at the exact same spots, that is eliminated by moving up to 512 MB.

[Robert]

hello,
I had one of 256 MB memory before. It did ok. After I replaced it with 2 of 128MB memory, my sisoft score was a lot better. I used the same bios setting and same kind of memory (PC2400).

??? How about 2x512MB or 4x256MB???

[Keymaster]

Well that's exactly why I said you must compare apples to apples. Comparing Crucial conservatively rated PC133 256 MB with KingMax PC150 512 MB does not indicate that 256 MB sticks perform better than 512 MB sticks. The best way to be sure you are comparing similar 256 MB sticks with 512 MB sticks is to compare sticks from the same manufacturer with the same specs down to the CAS and nanosecond ratings.

Furthermore some people will benefit from more than 512 MB RAM. This will depend on the Windows version being used and the applications. Maybe it makes no difference for games with Win98SE, but if you're doing video processing under Win2K or WinXP you can certainly benefit from 1 GB or more of RAM.

[Vfrjim1]

I just stepped up from 256m to 1 gig of memory with Win2k and all I can say is WOW, Photoshop 6 absolutely runs silky smooth, especially when you go and select an area to copy/paste that is very large, no hesitation whatsoever! And BTW, I bought 2-512m sticks, it overclocks just as well as my single 256m stick, both were Crucial PC2100 @176, both had micron chips.

Jim

[Malakai]

by populating 4 banks of ram (2 sticks) you can enable 4 way interleave and get a more than decent bost in performance.
1 512 stick o/c'ing better is simply not true, it depends on the ram and the quality.

they are even except 1x512 is usually more $$ and 2x256 can have 4 way and get better performance.

ita another matter of opinion, what do u want. more expandibility or better performance?

-Malakai

[lubetek]

for over clocking 2x256 is the way to go. final answere.

[Big_KiD]

so who is right?.. one stick or 2 for highest ocing.. jeas.. looks like it's splitt right now.. I have one stick of mushkin hipo 2100 256mb right now i am going to go with 512 I don't know if I should just get one more 256 of the same thing.. or get 1more 3200 stick.. or 2 more 3200 sticks..

[PressureCooker]

1 stick of 512 will outperform 2 sticks of 256 with the same spec!!!

Here is what one memory manufacturer says: (speaking about overclocking memory)

http://www.corsairmicro.com/main/PR_cmx512-3200.html

The key paragraph reads:

"Most users of Corsair's memory like to put at least 512 megabytes of memory into their systems," stated Don Lieberman, Corsair's Vice President of Engineering. "We believe that these modules offer our customers the ability to hit the highest speeds possible. One 512 megabyte module will outperform two 256 megabyte modules built with the same type of components in nearly any given performance-oriented system."

[Malakai]

their opinion doesnt count, they make more $$$$ off of selling 512 sticks, which cost more than 2 256meg ones
-Malakai

[Placid]

One 512 megabyte module will outperform two 256 megabyte modules built with the same type of components in nearly any given performance-oriented system."

I think this is where you need to be careful.

Newer memory like samsung 2700 ddr uses 8 chips on a 256mb module the 512mb module uses 16 of the same chips.

There are still a lot of memory in 256mb being made with 16 chips
like crucial 2100 ddr, since the physical limit of the pcb is 16 chips the 512mb versions of crucial will not use the same componets but a higher density chip.

[ocvox]

Well I think two sticks would be better. You would get twice the bandwidth. Sorta like the hour glass theory - but an hour glass which is twice the size with the same amount of sand.

[Malakai]

Please stop saying 1x512 will always outperform 2x256 if you arent going to post proof.

I have never seen anything stating that, ever.

-Malakai

[Starfoxer]

everyone with more than one stick of of 256 ram, please
do this for me.

run 3d mark with how ever many sticks more than 1.
record the score.

now run it with just 1 stick.
record the score

you will notice the test with 1 stick scored around 500 points
higher. is this true for you too?

[Big_KiD]

anyone with cold hard facts?. how about links to unbiased sorces?

[Malakai]

Originally posted by Starfox
everyone with more than one stick of of 256 ram, please
do this for me.

run 3d mark with how ever many sticks more than 1.
record the score.

now run it with just 1 stick.
record the score

you will notice the test with 1 stick scored around 500 points
higher. is this true for you too?

nope, scored 60 points less

did it twice exact same result. plugged back the second one and checked for 4-way interleave, im back 61 points up.

hmmmm.....

-Malakai

[Clevor]

Starfox, looks like you got a bad stick of ram :) .

[xgman]

I have tested 2 Samsung 2700 256 and one samsung 2700 512 with the following results:

1- 256 stick - slightly better overclock than
1- 512 stick - slightly better overclock than
2- 256 sticks

If you get "original" Samsung from somewhere like Newegg, a 512 will run 200+fsb with fairly agressive timings.

[Malakai]

Originally posted by grdh20
I have tested 2 Samsung 2700 256 and one samsung 2700 512 with the following results:

1- 256 stick - slightly better overclock than
1- 512 stick - slightly better overclock than
2- 256 sticks

If you get "original" Samsung from somewhere like Newegg, a 512 will run 200+fsb with fairly agressive timings.

could u give some more detailed results?

-Malakai

[Lord_of_Decay]

As an avid gammer and O/C'er I perfer 1x512 over 2x256. That is personal prefrence.:burn:

[Silver]

Originally posted by Malakai


could u give some more detailed results?

-Malakai

Me too. I would like more info on that. Seriously. Bandwidth, 3d results...whatever comparing the two.

[phillyTIM]

Also be mindful that 2x256, rather than 1x512, will have you ready for the new dual-DDR boards that are about to come out, so you will get twice the memory bandwidth as a standard!

[FTC]

Guys,


You CAN NOT GENERALIZE whether it is better 2x256 or 1x512 in a rule that is valid *always*. The fact is, it depends on the sticks theirselves and on the mobo. You have to take into account at least the following :

- Higher load on the bus with more sticks (So better to have less sticks for this reason)

- Likelyhood of having 'incompatible' timings or strange effects with more than one stick (so better to have less sticks for this reason)

- In general, bigger probability of having more 'banks' so that higher effective interleave is possible with more sticks -> better performance interleave wise (so better to have more sticks for this reason)

- Some mobos do read the first stick SPD and set the 'minor' timings accordingly... for all the sticks, so there is some likelyhood of having memory problems if more than one stick with *very dissimilar* timing requirements are being used (so better less sticks for this reason)

- For some brands it has been known that less dense modules do oveclock better, probably due to more improved process / less heat in less dense modules ???? Probably no longer a reason as of today, but if you care, this is a reason for having more smaller sticks.

- It has been repeteadly reported also that 2 sticks overclock worst than one, all other things equal, due to minor differences in timing (even with *identical sticks*)

- There is also the advantage if having several sticks that if one breaks, you just remove one till you have the replacement, and keep on working with a working system.

- And for last, several small sticks provide you with the buying flexibility so that you do not have to pay for all up-front, but again, if you are limited in the number of available slots....

.... So how to decide with so many reasons ?. My advice is to prefer less sticks than many (1 better than 2), BUT in the real life you end up always trying to work with more than one... because having more memory is usually better than having only part of it, right :-).

Regards
FTC