[Solved] 2 GB Dual Channel vs 2.5 Single Channel Advice?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory [Solved] 2 GB Dual Channel vs 2.5 Single Channel Advice?

So I've decided to add some ram to my old motherboard. I am about to put in two 1 GB DDR sticks

and my question is would it be faster to put the old 512 MB is the third slot even though it would be

reduced to single channel.

Any advice would help and be appreciated.

Reply to mastermind1297

Unless you really need the extra 512 MB, only install the 1 GB modules.

Reply to GhislainG

I would go for the added ram. Dual channel saves you a few cpu microseconds. More ram saves you hard drive paging which is milliseconds.

Reply to geofelt

From my own experience, where for a while I could only get 3 of the 4 banks to work, I'd say no.
My Win7 scores with memory with different combinations in the slots were;

1-512mb, 2-512mb 3-empty, 4-empty ... score = 4.4 (Dual)
1-1gb, 2-1gb, 3-empty, 4-empty ... score = 5.4 (Dual)
1-1gb, 2-1gb, 3-512mb, 4-empty ... score = 4.1 (Single)

Much better to be Dual.

Message edited by petefbi on 01-15-2010 at 01:27:21 AM

Reply to petefbi

Best answer

Since there seems to be a difference of opinion, I suggest the OP try it both ways. With the wei, you sometimes get strange results. Run superpi or some other cpu benchmark to assess the difference between dual and single channel. Some older amd chips are more sensitive to ram performance compared to the newer nehalem chips.

Reply to geofelt

Ask the community Add a reply

Related content

See all topics related to "2 GB Dual Channel vs 2.5 Single Channel Advice?"

Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Memory > [Solved] 2 GB Dual Channel vs 2.5 Single Channel Advice?

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 2128 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.483 seconds

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel