2x2 Gig or 4x1 Gig?

[rentoner]

I buying a new system and I'm going to put 4Gig or RAM into it.

I'm just deciding on which brand right now, and came across the following scenario:

The Patriot Extreme Performance Low Latency (4-4-4-12) 4 Gig kit (2x 2 Gig) is about $200 with a $20 mail-in rebate for total of $180.

The Patriot Extreme Performance Low Latency (4-4-4-12) 2 Gig (2x 1 Gig) is about $80 with a $40 mail-in rebate. If I get 2 of these, the grand total for 4 Gig would be $80.

That is a huge difference for the same type of RAM, just one configuration is 2 2Gig sticks, and the other is using all 4 RAM slots on my motherboard with 1Gig sticks in each.

Does anyone know what kind of performance variations would occur with using 4 1 Gig sticks from 2 kits instead of 2 2Gig sticks from 1 kit?

 

[mahoumatic]

2GB x 2 in Dual Channel will be a little bit faster than 4GB x 1 (2-5%),
which was tested when I was doing a review with DDR2-533/667 and
on a Pentium Extreme Edition Platform. I guess the result would also be
applicable to current Core 2 Duo/Quad platform...

2GB x 2 on one hand with less no. of memory chip and a shorter overall
circuit than 4GB x 1, and on the other hand should be able to go for
lower latency setting because of less compatibility issue with memory
chips and mainboard chipsets (Intel)/processor memory controller
(AMD)...

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed. You also use up only 2 RAM slots. Also are you using a x64 OS? If you aren't 4GB is kind of useless.

 

[OOOwatah]

Do you plan on putting more RAM into the machine later?

If so, go with the 2x2 for now. If not, 4x1 will be the more cost effective choice.

 

[sailer]

You might also check the rebates. Often they can only be used once, so you would get one 2x1 set of $40 and the second for $80. At $120, that's still cheaper than $180 for the 2x2 set, but it does make the choice it closer. You might also check on other differences, like the make of the IC chips. If the 2x2 set uses a better IC chip, like the Micron D9, then the 4x1 set would use, then the 2x2 set would have better response to overclocking.

 

[Maziar]

completely agreed with OOOwatah

 

[Shadow703793]

You might also check the rebates. Often they can only be used once, so you would get one 2x1 set of $40 and the second for $80. At $120, that's still cheaper than $180 for the 2x2 set, but it does make the choice it closer. You might also check on other differences, like the make of the IC chips. If the 2x2 set uses a better IC chip, like the Micron D9, then the 4x1 set would use, then the 2x2 set would have better response to overclocking.

Agreed. Those Micron chips are legendary.

 

[rentoner]

Cool, thanks for the info. I am not currently using a 64bit OS, but want to be upgradeable in the near future, and wouldn't mind also leaving some space for future RAM upgrades when that time comes. My concern was really 100% on performance of the system, as the cost and scalability I can understand. Now that I know there may be some difference (even if slight to small), I'll go with the 2x2Gig so I can also remain open for upgrades.

 

[DeathWalking]

Also, it's much harder to overclock a 4x1 than a 2x2 setup. I tried to get 4x1 running at 1066 on a 680i mobo, and failed miserably.

 

[Maziar]

No its not much harder to OC 4X1GB

 

[DeathWalking]

Pretty much everyone at the Corsair forums disagree with you.