Crysis and speed: 2x2GB or 4x1GB?

[JYS]

Crysis and speed: 2x2GB or 4x1GB?

 

[Falken699]

Voted 4x1 GB, but you may want 8GB down the line, so it'd be safer to go 2x2GB.

 

[bornking]

why make the CPU access 4 sticks of ram when it can access two instead. It may make only a minute diff, but a diff nonetheless.

 

[paq7512]

No way is it gonna take a minute more with 4 sticks. But if you want to have 8 down the road that would be awesome. I am gonna vote 4 sticks. Since it is much cheaper. If you have the money spend the extra 100 dollars.

 

[monst0r]

2x2 for upgradabillity

4x1 for timings

2gb modules cant get good timings like the 1gb models..because 1gb is the sweet spot for ddr2

personally i'd get 2x2gb of ram because 1 more clock isn't that big a difference to me or anyone else, but i voted for 4x1 because this post just talks about speed

 

[Nitro350Z]

not a minute difference as in time, but a minute difference as in a small measurement (not sure if minute is the correct spelling...)

HTH

 

[sailer]

I don't think speed will be that differenct between the diiferent ram sets. I went for 2x2 mainly because I anticipate have to go to 8 gig of ram before the Vista cycle is complete and we're on to a new OS. Maybe not, who knows? But I went for two sticks anyway. Maybe its just habit of having only two ram sticks in the computer.

 

[cory1234]

I went from 2x1gb to 4x1gb and noticed almost no difference at all in increased speed in any games, including bioshock. Running vista 64 bit. I think by the time we really need 8gb, ddr2 will be obsolete, and ddr3 will become more afforable and mainstream by the second half of 2008. I mean really I don't know what you would need 8gb for if your just playing games lol.

 

[techgeek]

What everyone is dancing around is the fact that running 4 sticks of RAM will usually force them to be run at a Command Rate of 2T rather than 1T. This adds additional latency. Command Rate is hidden on many BIOS's, so other utilities such as CPU-Z can be used to determine what Command Rate your RAM is running. Most memory controllers are unable to run at 1T with 4 slots populated.

 

[Guest]

Crysis and speed: 2x2GB or 4x1GB?

I honestly don't think it will make any difference..

Edit: any NOTICABLE difference.

 

[Chubby]

I got 4x1GB of DDRII which are labelled to run at 800, but under windows xp, 3.12 of RAM detected which is normal, but they're running at 667. is there anyway to change that? can anyone please brief me on that. a few years back i remeber having problems with some mobos when using all the 4 channels, they were automatically running one step slower.
MOBO: Asus p5k
4x1GB Kingston DDRII 800 (dont remember, PC6400 i think is it for 800?)
Thanks you guys

 

[Rabidpeanut]

Get 2X2 cause you never know when you will need 8gb (holy crap, i wish).

 

[sailer]

Get 2X2 cause you never know when you will need 8gb (holy crap, i wish).

Yeah, I give it about three years and there will be games and apps that demand 8 gig of ram. I may be wrong, but who knows for sure? Then again, I've been using computers long enough to remember increasing the the ram to 2 megabytes and wondering if I would ever use all of it. And the Vram of the time was all of 128k. Man how times have changed. Even ten years ago, who would have thought that anyone would even be thinking of, much less discussing, the thought of 4 or 8 gig of ram?

 

[bruce555]

You will always have a higher latency over 4 dimms to 2. If you're talking about speed than 2gb x 2 will be allot faster even though timmings and such will be rated slower. Bcchardware did a good review on this.

 

[cory1234]

So no one agrees that ddr3 will be the standard by the second half of next year? I don't see the point in saving to upgrade to 8gb of ddr2. I dont think any gamer will need 8gb of ram for at least two years.

 

[sailer]

Perhaps, but I think it will take longer, perhaps as much as two years before DDR3 becomes the standard. Its just barely making the scene now on a couple chipsets. Beyond that, the timings are terrible at the moment for DDR3. This will change, I'm sure, but in the meantime, DDR2 still has a good run, in my opinion.

 

[ferdia6]

guys, so 2x2gig 667 is better than 4x1 800?

using 2 quad core

 

[sailer]

Probably the 2x2 667 is better than 4x1 800. It depends a bit on which chips you're running, what the motherboard's capabilities are, and the multipliers that are used, as well as whether or not you're overclocking. But a two stick setup allows for 1T timing, while a 4 stick setup only allows 2T timing.

I'd go for the 1T timing, myself, and if there's till some doubt, wait and save a bit more moeny to buy a 2x2 800 set of ram. Just a thought there.

 

[plguzman]

By the time you need 8Gb, you will be using another MOBO. I have all my slots used (4x1Gb) but I will upgrade to Nehalem next year, so I'm not concerned about it.

 

[mis33]

Besides further upgrade, I read that 2x2GB configuration is preferred because:

1. Some motherboards have problems to work with 4 sticks.
2. Less heat with 2 sticks, so OC better.

 

[StevieD]

2x2 for upgradabillity

4x1 for timings

2gb modules cant get good timings like the 1gb models..because 1gb is the sweet spot for ddr2

personally i'd get 2x2gb of ram because 1 more clock isn't that big a difference to me or anyone else, but i voted for 4x1 because this post just talks about speed

minute means very small. minute means a measure of time.

You spelled the word correctly.

 

[StevieD]

2x2 due to obvious reasons that 4x2 is a long term possibility.

 

[dashbarron]

With all the hardcore people in the boards, we must have someone with 64-bit and 8GBs.

...

Anyone?

 

[nukemaster]

I vote 2 x 2gigs just due to the fact that it will have better compatibility(some boards are less than happy with 4 sticks...and sticks with different specs) leave you an upgrade path(try to get the same thing you have now) and save some power.....

The only down side is many 2 x 2 kits run slower timings....but if you are running stock you can run 667 ram rated at 5-5-5-15 at 4-4-4-10 at 533 anyway....or run 800 5-5-5-15 at 667 4-4-4-10 for a slight OC...I assume you are running a Q6600