4GB - Add additional chip or replace all 4?

[kevinstraight]

Currently my Intel Quad core Q6600 system is factory loaded with 3x 1GB PC4200 DDR2 chips (3GB total). Motherboard will handle 8GB of 800 MHz PC6400. I’m moving to Vista64 and was hoping to upgrade to 4GB (maybe 8GB later).

To immediately achieve 4GB, my choices are:
ADD another 1GB stick of PC4200, which should allow all four similar chips to run in dual channel mode (but I’d have no empty banks left).
OR
Retire the four existing chips and ADD 2x 2GB PC6400 chips (that way I’d still have 2 extra slots free and I’d still gain the dual channel mode).

No plans to over clock my system at the moment either. Is there really a different between DDR2 chips running at 533 MHz single channel and 800 MHz dual channel?
Going to the full 8GB would be nice, but it’s also extra $$$... so I’m really only concerned with 4GB at the moment.

With prices still low, I figure… why not. Not sure which is the better route?
Kevin.

 

[Mondoman]

The 2x2GB is definitely the better route. Assuming you are not OCing your CPU, you want your RAM running at DDR2-533 IN DUAL CHANNEL MODE. So, get the new RAM and set it to run at DDR2-533 until you get a CPU that runs at a faster FSB than 1066MHz.

 

[huron]

I agree - 2x2GB is less than $50.

Get 4GB of DDR2 800 and you can OC it if you need.

 

[idisarmu]

Currently my Intel Quad core Q6600 system
is factory loaded....





Did anyone else read that? I bet his bios is locked too since chances are that he bought it as a whole machine... even acer sells pcs with q66's now.

 

[Verge]

Just to avoid problems in future, technically a stick of RAM isn't a chip but includes several RAM chips; ie its rather more than one chip.

 

[Shadow703793]

@idisarmu: Yes, the BIOS might be locked. Providing the OP is only getting 1.8v RAM that shouldn't be an issue.

@OP: Get 1.8v RAM. (ie GSkill PI)

 

[boulard83]

Aggred. 2x2 ( i love my G-skill^pi-black ) run sweet @ 1.85v ...

 

[kevinstraight]

Well I did it... removed all the 1GB sticks, and replaced them with 4x 2GB DDR2 667Mhz sticks. No problems recognizing em, and even VISTA 32bit see's the total system memory at 8GB... but I suppose it can only access 3.25GB of it.

The Windows Experience went from 5.4 to 5.6 (with the memory in dual channel...) not much of a gain. But the RAM was cheap (Kingston 2GB module was $14 each at FutureShop). So I killed my curiosity and maxed out my ram. I'll have to see how 64Bit Vista and Windows7 64bit work with it next.

That’s one project down... onward and upward (it never ends eh?)

 

[boulard83]

hah no its never ending !

Just Upgraded to my SLI ... and now i want new PROC ... NO END !
we alwais want more !!!