4x1GB or 2x2GB?

mis33

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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.as...20Memory&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?
 
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

 

Rabidpeanut

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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.
 
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.
 

mis33

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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 !
 

mis33

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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.

 
G

Guest

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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.
 

Mondoman

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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.
 

mis33

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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.
 

mis33

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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.


 

Evilonigiri

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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.
 

sailer

Splendid


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.
 

sailer

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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.