RAM Question

[pmcizhere]

So I just bought 1GB of Dual Channel RAM (in the 2x512MB configuration), and was wondering if I combined the RAM with my existing 512 MB of it would be faster than just using the Dual Channel. Confused with my question? Here it is in tech:

Is 1.5 GB of PC2700 (266 MHz) faster/better than 1.0 GB of PC3200 (400 MHz)?

I may also be able to get 1.256 GB of RAM since one stick supports Dual Channel, but I think it is not possible to run Dual Channel with only 3 sticks, correct? (I have a total of 4 sticks, and there is that one stick that's PC2700 which is seeming to screw up the whole Dual Channel thing.)

Thanks, and sorry for any confusion!

 

[stevty2889]

What motherboard and CPU are you running. Are you running any programs that actualy use more than 1gb of ram? There were some Athlon XP motherboards that could run dual channel with 3 sticks, but other than that, you need to have pairs for dual channel, so you'll lose dual channel with 3 sticks. Depending on what CPU you have, depends on how much performance differance there will be between single and dual channel.

 

[pmcizhere]

Oh I should of put that in my signature...

It's an ASUS P4P800-VM running a (Socket 478) P4 at 1.8 GHz (No HT, that's the next thing I'm gonna buy for this computer). I often like to use Photoshop and FruityLoops, but other than that and the occasional game like GTA:San Andreas or The Matrix Online, I'm not too sure that anything else uses 1 GB of RAM. So mainly I want faster performance for those.

 

[Ipno]

I would think you'll see better performance just using the dual channel ram.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I think Photoshop would get a very healthy boost from a larger amount of RAM, but at the same time the P4 has been shown to benefit a great deal from dual channel. If you plan to upgrade to a higher clockspeed processor then performance gleaned from the bandwidth increase in dual channel would become more pronounced, although I'm not sure how much it will help you with a 1.8ghz P4 or if that outweighs the benefits of having more memory for the applications you like to run.

 

[stevty2889]

P4's are pretty bandwidth hungry, but since you are only running a 1.8 on 400mhz FSB you'll get plenty of bandwidth running @PC2700(which is actualy 333mhz not 266) speeds, and photoshop does like to use a lot of ram. And you should still be in dual channel since you are using 4 sticks of ram.

EDIT: p.s., that motherboard won't let your run at PC3200 speeds anyway if you are using a 400 or 533mhz FSB CPU, it will only let you run PC3200 with an 800mhz FSB chip, so even less of a reason to take out the PC2700 stick.

 

[Shenkoa]

Dual Channel by far, you wont notice a differents in most apps past 1 GB of RAM. Its not the size of the RAM that counts, its the motion of the communication.

I like the quote in your sig SlitheryDee.

 

[pmcizhere]

Ok, Dual Channel it is! I will do some benchmarking to see just how much of a difference it makes. Thanks everyone!

 

[pmcizhere]

Okay, just read that edit...So, leave it in? I'll just benchmark different setups and see which gives me the best performance.

 

[pmcizhere]

Sorry for the triple post...But you were right, stevty2889, I can't yet run the RAM at 3200 due to my CPU. Oh well, another reason to get a new one!