2x2GB or 4x1GB

[utaustinstud]

So I'm planning on building a system once I get my government rebate and am wanting some advice on whether or not I should go with 4x1GB sticks or 2x2GB sticks.

4x1GB sticks will be cheaper it seems but will I have problems when I go to OC my CPU?

I'll probably end up getting a E2160 CPU and OCing it to around 3Ghz because I'd like to do a little gaming with the new computer. This means I'll end up buying either 9600 or 8800 card (probably will be dependent on prices at time of purchase).

I like the idea of having just 2 sticks of RAM because I feel like I can more easily upgrade to 8GB if I ever want to but I can get 4x1GB sticks for about $50-$60 (Crucial Ballistix) after MIR and the same Crucial Ballistix RAM in the 2x2GB set costs around $115. I can get other brands for around $75-90. So anyway I look at it I'll be spending at least 30% more for the same amount of RAM.

And, I'll probably won't be upgrading past 4GB anytime within the next couple years simply because there's no point in a 32-bit OS.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[maximiza]

for 32 bit I would get 2 or 3 gigs. 4 gigs is a waste.

 

[akhilles]

Stimulus check, ain't it?

Nonsense. I have 4 sticks & I am at 4ghz stable. Beat that. Overclocking depends on more skills than anything else.

Depends on how long the ram will be kept. If it's a placeholder until DDR3, don't waste your money. If it's going to be around for 5 years, get as much as you can.

 

[Maziar]

Definitely agreed ^^^

Both 2x2GB and 4x1GB are good many say 2x2GB OCs better but its not true, i myself have 4x1GB OCZ REPAER DDR2 800 RAM with 4-4-4-15 timings(@712MHZ with 2.1 Voltage( and i have my E6600 @ 3.2 stable

So both are good

BTW,long time no see akhilles glad to have u back

 

[Scotteq]

Q6600 @ 3.2 Ghz (8 multi, 1600 FSB), EIGHT GB of OCZ Reapers at 1:1 running 4-4-4-12 timings at 2.05v

 

[utaustinstud]

Thanks for your help.

akhilles, I tend to keep my RAM for a while. I don't normally change computers but once every 3-4 years--maybe 5 and so the RAM definitely won't be any sort of placeholder until DDR3 become affordable and more widely used. Of course by the time I'm ready to upgrade DDR3 will be a viable solution then but that's a few years down the road.

The main reason I've been considering 2x2GB is so I can have 2 extra RAM slots to upgrade to 6-8GB when/if I upgrade to Vista 64bit. This way I don't trash 4GB of RAM.

If I do the 2x2GB sticks are there any particular kits you'd recommend? I've been on Newegg and have found a couple that have good prices after MIR (not much more than 4x1GB after MIR would cost).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227284

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220227

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227248

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

My main concern with any of these kits is the CAS 5 latency. The Crucial Ballistix kit I was looking at had 4-4-4-12 timings meaning I wouldn't have to OC them or do any modifications to get the good timing (or at least I assume). Are these modules good at OCing? I guess the Reapers would be since Scotteq has them running at those timings but the voltage had to be increased and so is that going to noticeably shorten the lifespan of the memory or void the warranty?

Thanks a lot again for all your help.

 

[Scotteq]

Let me qualify my results - Running 4 Modules *is* more stressful on your motherboard, and *can* limit Overclocking in the case where you are going for the highest possible. But if you have something more of an everyday 'working' OC in your plans (3.2~3.4 for a Q66, for example), then you shouldn't be troubled much. The Overclocking Golden Rules apply: Superior Components, Superior Cooling, and a bit of knowledge/methodology will get you sustainable results.


Mine are running 2.05v at 800 Mhz, at 4-4-4-12 timings. 4-4-4-15 is what they're rated at, so I have mine just at bit tighter. The voltage is within the recommended range (up to 2.1V) for those modules, so they're not overvolted at all. Front Side Buss is bumped a little from 1.3 to 1.33v, though. I also have a *very* good motherboard (DFI UT LP P35) which, quite frankly, is understressed compared to what it's capable of. IMHO, you should be able to do the same with good modules on a good motherboard - Couple of tricks:

(1) Auto settings may not cut it - They're developed with 2 modules, not 4. Set your voltages and timings manually. Be advised you may need to compensate for extra voltage drop. Some boards (like my DFI) have controls for that, others do not.

(2) Command Rate 2T (on the small chance you didn't already know that...)

(3) tREF should be 54 or higher - Some mobos don't support settings this high, so check.

(4) If you have done the above with no joy, you may need to bump the Front Side Buss a tad.

(5) If you still don't have your result, you may need to loosen timings up a little.

 

[utaustinstud]

Thanks a lot for the help Scotteq. I read an article here on Tom's about CPU vs. GPU and what kind of CPU a certain GPU needed. (Here's the link: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-gpu-upgrade,1928.html. After reading that article it seems to me a E2160 OCed to around 3.0Ghz should be just fine for any video card I'm going to buy. So, is that considered "everyday working OC"?

As far as MOBOs go I was probably going to get the Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R because I've heard the DS3L version is really good at OCing and for an extra $30 I get the DS3R and get eSATA support built in (with a bracket). Am I correct in assuming that the BIOS setup will be pretty much identical between those two motherboards since they're in the same line--the DS3R just has more features?

Once again thanks for all of your help.

 

[chuckm]

2X2 will usually require less northbridge voltage and overclock easier than 4X1

 

[akhilles]

Yup, DS3L, DS3R, DQ6 all look about the same to me in bios. Perhaps a few options here and there like IEEE, etc.

Maziar, I usually post in homebuilt forum.