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| Thread ID: 46431 | 2004-06-23 09:39:00 | RAM configuration, 2 or 4 modules best? | oggy (1250) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 247042 | 2004-06-23 09:39:00 | Hi Looking at a new PC. Comes with 1024 mb DDR SDRAM in either 2 x 512 mb or 4 x 256 mb. What are the pros and cons of 2 vs 4 modules? (Total price is the same). |
oggy (1250) | ||
| 247043 | 2004-06-23 09:58:00 | it would pay to actualy give details of the pc. some pc's do not run well with 4 ram sticks. i would choose the 2x512 as this will allow for any future upgrades. |
tweak'e (174) | ||
| 247044 | 2004-06-23 10:02:00 | You would need a lot more information than that to determine which would be faster. You would need RAM latencies, if they are Dual Channel sticks, single sided/double sided. Generally you might be better off getting the 2x512mb as that would leave you with some spare room for additional upgrades. |
kiki (762) | ||
| 247045 | 2004-06-23 10:16:00 | Thanks Not overly worried about speed as I reckon 1 gb ram will give me all I need. I'm more interested in the practicalities. eg, what if one module goes bung in either configuration ... will the PC still run? If I get 2 x 512 modules and one falls over I'll have to buy another 512 mb module to replace it which is a bit more expensive than just replacing a single 256mb module. The system I'm looking at is a P4 3.2 ghz with hyperthreading. |
oggy (1250) | ||
| 247046 | 2004-06-23 10:20:00 | Go for 2 x 512. Then you have 2 free slots. If the next best thing at a fair price is 1024 MB sticks, you can add to your existing 1024 rather than losing 256 to gain 1024. I have a dual channel RAM motherboard, and could only afford 512 when I got it - it ran sweet with one stick. I have 2 x 512's in now. J :D |
Jester (13) | ||
| 247047 | 2004-06-23 10:27:00 | >one falls over I'll have to buy another 512 mb module to replace it which is a bit more expensive than just replacing a single 256mb module by the time one falls over (out of warranty) then the price of 512 sticks will be down to 256 prices :) |
tweak'e (174) | ||
| 247048 | 2004-06-23 10:33:00 | I was reading a review of a motherboard the other night and they could not get it to recognise all the ram with all 4 slots filled, fine with 2 or 3. It is a board that is very near and dear to a PF1'ers heart. Cheers Murray P |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 247049 | 2004-06-23 10:39:00 | Go for the 2 x 512 mb sticks | mikebartnz (21) | ||
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