Is there a difference between (2)1gb stick, (4)512mb stick

[subaru41]

Does it make a difference if you have 4 sticks of 512mb or 2 sticks of 1gb? even if they both have the same latency and timing?

such as on the Corsair XMS:
Cas Latency 2
Timing 2-3-3-6


CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400

 

[jumpmaster]

You will get better performance and you'll be able to overcklock more if you use the 2x1gb

 

[subaru41]

You will get better performance and you'll be able to overcklock more if you use the 2x1gb

Well I dont plan on overclocking, but can you explain why 1gb is better than 2 512mb sticks? Will I even notice a difference? I mainly just play games.

 

[jitpublisher]

Check your motherboard manual.
Many boards will set the default memory speed to 333 when you install 4 sticks instead of 2.

 

[subaru41]

Check your motherboard manual.
Many boards will set the default memory speed to 333 when you install 4 sticks instead of 2.

When i right click on My Computer (on the desktop in Win XP Pro) and click on properties. it says 2GB of ram. Does that mean they are default at 512 and not 333?

 

[fredgiblet]

The biggest difference is that to upgrade you will have to buy 1 GB sticks if you put 4x512's in instead of being able to toss in 512's later. If you are building a new computer I suggest getting the 2x1GB setup.

 

[Frank_M]

Check your motherboard manual.
Many boards will set the default memory speed to 333 when you install 4 sticks instead of 2.

When i right click on My Computer (on the desktop in Win XP Pro) and click on properties. it says 2GB of ram. Does that mean they are default at 512 and not 333?
:roll:

512 is size, 400 and 333 is speed, and measured in MHz.

When you put in 2 pcs of RAM, you can run 400 MHz (and above, if you overclock) at 1T command rate.
If you put in 4 pcs, you can only run at 2T, and some mobos scale it down to 333 MHz.
That means: you get slightly less performance. However, it will be hardly noticable.