What would be better option , 2gb dual channel or 3gb single channel?

[Dishant]

i have nvidia nf-7050 mobo which supports 4gb max . ram of 667 mhz
i currently have a dynet 1gb pc2-5300 667mhz ram with running windows xp sp3..

i plan to upgrade my memory for running latest games on windows 7 ultimate x86 or maybe on x64..

i'm confused as i have searched for this many times but i'm not getting proper answers..

whether should i purchase 1gb ram stick and run 2x1gb dual channel or purchase 2gb ram stick and run 3gb(2gb+1gb)??

don't ask my pc specs.. cause i know how much they are old.. never mind.. please tell which ram would be better and which among these will support my mobo? i guess both should!!

1gb-

www.flipkart.com/evm-ddr2-1-gb-pc-ram-evmp1g667u68d-evmp1g667u88d/p/itmd9zdkrptxahth?pid=RAMD9ZDJRESJAZ7Q&ref=2fe635a5-ce04-46d9-892a-7cbb7fc43e1e

2gb-

www.flipkart.com/transcend-ddr2-2-gb-pc-ram-jm667qlu-2g/p/itmd2rypv7sfvds4?pid=RAMD2RYPU2YE2MPX&icmpid=reco_pp_same_ram_beb_ram_1

p.s. i can't upgrade to 4gb (2x2gb) .. my budget's only for 1 ram stick !!

 

[abekl]

You are better off with 3GB ram in single channel mode than 2GB in dual channel mode.

There. I said it as plainly as possible.

 

[Dishant]

dude.. thnx a lot for replying!! so i should go for 3gb with windows 7, right?

 

[abekl]

right

 

[Dishant]

and i have 1 more question.. when i see the SPD Tab of CPU-Z.. It shows 'Maximum Bandwidth - PC2-5300 (333MHz).. does this means that my ram is running at 333mhz? and with given 3gb, what should be better for gaming.. windows 7 x64 or x86? my cpu is 64-bit as well!!

 

[apache_lives]

i get the feeling your motherboard is NOT dual channel -- double check it actually is

xp wont benifit from well anything its a dead os you wont see much difference from 1.5gb - 3gb

windows 7 will love the higher ammount over a higher bandwidth, better still 2x2gb matched dual channel or not

rams golden rules (oldschool but still applies) -- least ammount of modules, most matched modules

try to stick with a matched pair

 

[Dishant]

i get the feeling your motherboard is NOT dual channel -- double check it actually is

xp wont benifit from well anything its a dead os you wont see much difference from 1.5gb - 3gb

windows 7 will love the higher ammount over a higher bandwidth, better still 2x2gb matched dual channel or not

rams golden rules (oldschool but still applies) -- least ammount of modules, most matched modules

try to stick with a matched pair

can you explain in simple and detailed please!!