256 x 2 sticks or 1 stick 512..dual chanel?

[diesel23]

Ok..games running a bit crappy so..right now I have 2x256 running dual channel. So, I found out I can still run in DC even with 1 stick of 512 on the other bank. Got 4 slots, so put the 2x256 on one side of the bank and 512 on the other side. OR should I get another 2x256 and fill up all the banks? What would be better, would it be slower cause it has to access all the banks err no?

<much thanks>

P4 3.0Ghz
Intel D865GRH
512 PC3200 Dual Channel
eVGA 6600GT (Ti4200 128mb 4 Sale)

 

[diesel23]

wanna add one more thingy.
Would timings be worse or better IF:
I sell the 2x256 and get 1 stick of 512 to replace that. Then get another 512. So two sticks of 512.? Or would it be better in the original scenario.

P4 3.0Ghz
Intel D865GRH
512 PC3200 Dual Channel
eVGA 6600GT (Ti4200 128mb 4 Sale)

 

[mozzartusm]

Windows is suppose to run better with all 4 banks filled according to some people here that should know. Thats what they always say. Lookup review at Anandtech.com

 

[diesel23]

anyone else? so i should get 256x2 and fill up all the banks huh? i would think 2 512 sticks have a slower access times.

P4 3.0Ghz
Intel D865GRH
512 PC3200 Dual Channel
eVGA 6600GT (Ti4200 128mb 4 Sale)

 

[Crashman]

No, you're not running an nForce2 chipset, you don't have the 3-DIMM dual-channel option.

865/875 chipsets address the memory differently depending on how many banks are filled, opposite AMD, with these chipsets the more banks filled the better.

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[jammydodger]

P4's have to have even numbers of memory modules to run in dual channel mode. The p4 sends half the data to one module and half to another, so it will not work with three modules (or 2 modules of different size). Athlon XP systems stagger the latencies so they can work with odd numbers of modules.

 

[diesel23]

damn..thanks for clearing that up. So its 2x256 then i suppose...

So performance is better with all banks filled up you say?

P4 3.0Ghz
Intel D865GRH
512 PC3200 Dual Channel
eVGA 6600GT (Ti4200 128mb 4 Sale)