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4x1GB or 2x2GB?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - 4x1GB or 2x2GB?

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mis33   09-30-2007 at 08:44:59 PM

I know that 2x2GB is better because there will be 2 free slots for future upgrade. However, there are not much selections out there.

This is the link to my local store. http://www.pcvonline.com/products. [...] mory&sub2=

You can see that most of the RAM are 2x1GB kit with only 2 2x2GB kits. There are all the 4GB kit I could find in this site:

$228 OCZ 4G (2 x 2GB) 667DDR2 XTC Vista Upgrade Edition(5-5-5-15) - OCZ2VU6674GK
$294 OCZ 4G (2 x 2GB) DDR2800 Vista Performance Platinum Edition(5-4-4-18) - OCZ2P8004GK
$183 OCZ 4Gb (4 x1GB) Gold XTC Edition DDR2-800 Quad Kit (5-5-5-18) - OCZ2G8004GQ
$185 OCZ 4Gb (4 x 1GB) Platinum XTC Edition DDR2-800 Quad Kit (4-5-4-18) - OCZ2P8004GQ

I prefer to buy from this store because if there is any compatibility issue, they will exchange it.

Given the choices in this URL (including the 2x1GB options, I will just buy 2 kits), which RAM would you buy?

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Maziar   09-30-2007 at 09:08:32 PM
- 0 +

if u read the forum , u will find your answer with ease

i would go with option 2 or 4 , if u want to upgrade to 8GB soon , go for option 2 , if not , because the $ difference between 2 and 4 is high , go for option 4

------------------------------ Q6600@3.4+ TT V1 Cooler,SAPPHIRE HD 4870X2,ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA,4GB OCZ DDR2 800,LG W2452V 1920x1200
 Reply to Maziar
Rabidpeanut   09-30-2007 at 09:44:56 PM
- 0 +

4 chips on a dual dual channel mobo is better right now but i doubt you will need 8gb of ram any time soon. So if you can get 4*1gb. 2*2 is cheaper though.

Reply to Rabidpeanut
geofelt   09-30-2007 at 10:03:08 PM
- 0 +

The C2D processors(assuming that is what you have) are not very sensitive to memory speeds. Unless you are overclocking, there will be negligible difference in your application performance. Get the cheapest that will work on your motherboard.

------------------------------ I7 920@3.3
TRUE w/1366 kit
6GB patriotDDR3 1600
Asus P6T Deluxe
Reply to geofelt
mis33   09-30-2007 at 10:16:42 PM
- 0 +

My CPU is Q6600-G0.

If you open the URL, you will see that 2*2 is not really cheaper than 1x4.

Another consideration is many MB do not work well with 1X4 !

Reply to mis33
aevm   09-30-2007 at 10:53:42 PM
- 0 +

Option 2 is the best, but option 1 is almost as good. I'm not sure the difference is worth $294-$228. Go with #2 if you intend to overclock, #1 otherwise.

Reply to aevm
mis33   09-30-2007 at 11:19:43 PM
- 0 +

Option 1 is only 667 GHz ! I should get 800 MHzm, right?

So, you're saying 2X2 is better than 1x4. Any particular reasons beside for future upgrade?

I think 4 GB is plenty, not sure if I will ever go beyond 4 GB. Please correct me if I am wrong, I really do not know much about RAM.

Reply to mis33
deuce271   10-01-2007 at 12:01:39 AM
- 0 +

You only need 800 mhz if you intend to overclock. You can overclock with 667 memory, but if you want a FSB higher than 333, you need to overclock the memory as well.

------------------------------ Antec Nine Hundred, Gigabyte P35-DS3R, Intel Q6600 @ 3.2 Ghz, Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme, eVGA 8800GT 512MB, G-Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800 4-4-4-10, Seasonic S12 ATX 650W, Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA, 26" LCD Monitor (1900x1200), Windows XP Pr
 Reply to deuce271
Mondoman   10-01-2007 at 12:15:13 AM
- 0 +

Perhaps you should first make sure that you are using a 64-bit OS, and that your MB BIOS has a "memory relocation" function. Otherwise, depending on the details of your hardware, you will only be able to use about 3GB of the RAM anyway, and so may be better off buying 2x1GB + 2x512MB.

Reply to Mondoman
mis33   10-01-2007 at 12:57:13 AM
- 0 +

I plan to use WinXP-32 bit for now, so the usable memoey is only 3.2 GB. I will upgrade to a 64-bit OS in one year or so.

I hope to OC my Q6600 to 2.8-3.0 GHz.

Reply to mis33
mis33   10-01-2007 at 12:58:40 AM
- 0 +

So, in term of performance, is there a difference between 1x4 and 2x2 configurations?

How about the MB? I read that many boards cannot work with 4 RAM sticks.


Message quoted 2 times
Reply to mis33
Evilonigiri   10-01-2007 at 01:29:40 AM
- 0 +

mis33 wrote :

So, in term of performance, is there a difference between 1x4 and 2x2 configurations?

How about the MB? I read that many boards cannot work with 4 RAM sticks.


Performance wise, I believe that 1x4 is slower than a 2x2 due to the more slots. I also think that overclocking degrades when using 4sticks of ram, although 2gb ram sticks are also not very good overclockers. If you have Vista 64bit version, I would go with the 2x2, simply because it produces less heat and takes less space.

------------------------------ "Nvidia, the Way It's Meant to be PAID Played! - Corrado
*Lesbian Lover Club* - founder Assman
 Reply to Evilonigiri
runswindows95   10-01-2007 at 01:58:01 AM
- 0 +

If you're not running a 64-bit OS anytime soon, just get 2X1GB for now.

Reply to runswindows95
Sailer   10-01-2007 at 03:16:45 AM
- 0 +

mis33 wrote :

So, in term of performance, is there a difference between 1x4 and 2x2 configurations?

How about the MB? I read that many boards cannot work with 4 RAM sticks.



Most motherboards will work with 4 ram sticks, otherwise they wouldn't offer 4 ram slots. But a 4 x 1 configuration will limit you to a 2T timing, while the 2 x 2 will allow a 1T timing, which will be faster.

If you have a 2 x 1 ram setup at the moment, I would stick with that until you actually get a 64 bit OS. If you have to buy ram no matter what and seriously intend the migration to 64 bit, I'd go ahead with the 2 x 2 ram now, rather than to buy ram and then replace it later. Even though the 32 bit OS only will recognize 3.2-3.5 gig of the 4 gig that are there, it won't hurt to have it. Just my opinion.

------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
 Reply to Sailer
paq7512   10-01-2007 at 05:06:20 AM
- 0 +

There is like 10+ topics that start like this.

------------------------------ Abit IP35 PRO | Intel E6750 | 4GB Corsair XMS2 800 | 8800GTS 512MB | Silverstone ST75F 750W | Cooler Master 690 | 2.2TB Storage | Dual Monitors | Samsung 226BW |SAMSUNG 906BW | Gamer | Adobe User | Vista Ultimate Sp1 X64
 Reply to paq7512
Sailer   10-01-2007 at 05:52:51 AM
- 0 +

There's probably over a hundred topics that start like this. One more, no real harm. If the OP and/or anyone else learns something by it, then well and good.

------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
 Reply to Sailer
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