Ram

[JamesT]

I'm looking to add more memory shortly and was wandering can someone please tell me what size of memory would work best,,,,,,,,,

4 x 1gb DDR2 memory or 2 x 2gb DDR2 memory

 

[Fumz]

Unless you're overclocking then it doesn't really matter. Get whatever setup is cheaper. If you're overclocking, then get the 2x2.

 

[Day24]

if you get 2 X 2GB you'll be able to add more RAM more easily later though....

 

[skunksmash]

if you get 2 X 2GB you'll be able to add more RAM more easily later though....

2x2 would be your best bet ..
overclocking & upgrade potential

if you have no intention of overclocking, or ever going 8gb
2x2 would still be better as it would produce less heat & put less stress on the North bridge.

so 2x2 is win win however you look at it

 

[Fumz]

I'm looking to add more memory shortly and was wandering can someone please tell me what size of memory would work best,,,,,,,,,

By this I assume he already has 2x1GB of RAM? $40.00 for another 2x1 is fine.

While everything you guys said is true, 2x2 is better for clocking and upgrading in the future, it's never a good idea to run with mismatched sticks, right? He would have to either ditch the RAM he's already got, which would be a waste, or run 2x1 + 2x2, which would be running mismatched.

If the idea is to get away as cheaply as possible, running 4x1 will be fine and there will be really no performance loss to speak of. The northbridge isn't going to get noticeably hotter... lots of guys run 4x1 with zero issues. It may be more stressful on the memory controller overclocking, but since timings and dividers really don't matter much, why worry about it?

 

[Day24]

no, 2X1 plus 2X2 isn't mismatched if he places the ram sticks in the right banks.

But if it's adding RAM he wants, then adding 2 X 1 is the cheapest option.

 

[skunksmash]

I'm looking to add more memory shortly and was wandering can someone please tell me what size of memory would work best,,,,,,,,,

By this I assume he already has 2x1GB of RAM? $40.00 for another 2x1 is fine.

While everything you guys said is true, 2x2 is better for clocking and upgrading in the future, it's never a good idea to run with mismatched sticks, right? He would have to either ditch the RAM he's already got, which would be a waste, or run 2x1 + 2x2, which would be running mismatched.

If the idea is to get away as cheaply as possible, running 4x1 will be fine and there will be really no performance loss to speak of. The northbridge isn't going to get noticeably hotter... lots of guys run 4x1 with zero issues. It may be more stressful on the memory controller overclocking, but since timings and dividers really don't matter much, why worry about it?

yep the NB temperature increase would be nothing noticeable
i was just stating if OCing & upgrading would never interest him then this was another reason to have less DIMMs
matched of course...

i my self run 4x1GB with no probs at all...& mine are highly OCed 800s running 1000mhz @ 4-4-4-12 2.3v

if i was choosing now though i would go 4x2GB

the difference between running matched & unmatched DIMMs would be small....probably only noticeable when number crunching

 

[Fumz]

no, 2X1 plus 2X2 isn't mismatched if he places the ram sticks in the right banks.

Doesn't this defy logic? Two 1GB stick plus two 2GB sticks "isn't" mismatched? The SPD rom chips would be different, the RAM configuration is different, the size is different... it would be, afaik, mismatched.

Considering that when running in dual channel it's recommended to get all your memory at the same time, or buy a dual channel kit, to make sure the RAM's SPD chips are alike, would not the configuration be just as much of a "mismatch" as if you bought 1 stick now and 1 stick a year from now?

... i was just stating if OCing & upgrading would never interest him then this was another reason to have less DIMMs
matched of course...
... if i was choosing now though i would go 4x2GB

Yep, I agree 100%. I wish I had gotten 4x2 as well, lol.

 

[skunksmash]

no, 2X1 plus 2X2 isn't mismatched if he places the ram sticks in the right banks.

Doesn't this defy logic? Two 1GB stick plus two 2GB sticks "isn't" mismatched? The SPD rom chips would be different, the RAM configuration is different, the size is different... it would be, afaik, mismatched.

Considering that when running in dual channel it's recommended to get all your memory at the same time, or buy a dual channel kit, to make sure the RAM's SPD chips are alike, would not the configuration be just as much of a "mismatch" as if you bought 1 stick now and 1 stick a year from now?

... i was just stating if OCing & upgrading would never interest him then this was another reason to have less DIMMs
matched of course...
... if i was choosing now though i would go 4x2GB

Yep, I agree 100%. I wish I had gotten 4x2 as well, lol.

it is possible to run 2x1 & 2x2gb = 6gb in dual channel due to there being two separate banks (each bank takes a matched pair)

 

[Fumz]

it is possible to run 2x1 & 2x2gb = 6gb in dual channel due to there being two separate banks (each bank takes a matched pair)

No no, I wasn't implying that you couldn't run the 2x1 plus 2x2... sorry if I didn't make that more clear. You can, my only point, minor as it is, was that the sticks weren't the same; they're mismatched... which I think we can all agree on? That you can run them doesn't change that fact, right?

 

[Day24]

the term mismatched only refers to the dual channel part of it all.
You need to make sure, in order to have the ram running in dual channel mode, that the ram modules (the actual sticks) which are in the matched banks (usually the two banks on the motherboard of the same colour) are exactly the same, preferably even made at the same time.
If you then use the other two banks with another matched pair, this does not mean that you are running something which is mismatched.....you are simply running two matched pairs. Now, if you were to confuse the banks, and put a 1 GB and a 2 GB stick in the matched banks, then yes, you'd be running mismatched pairs, and you would not be able to run the ram in dual channel. But if you have two sticks of 1 GB already running in dual channel, and simply add two matched sticks of 2 GB in the other matched banks which are still available, you will still have all the ram running in dual channel mode, and none of the ram will be mismatched.

 

[Fumz]

Imho, the term "mismatched" also refers to the RAM's SPD chips, which is the more important consideration when selecting RAM.

RAM voltages and timings are not set per bank; you do not get to set vdimm for bank 1 and then a separate vdimm for bank 2. The newly purchased memory in one bank could have very different voltage needs than that of the other. Since DDR2 goes from 1.8-2.3 volts, this can lead to problems for at least one bank.

Timings are also not set per bank. The board will look at each bank's SPD chips and set timings according to the lowest common denominator.

We're not disagreeing really, it's just that I think there's a bit more to it than just making sure a matched pair is placed in each channel.

 

[Day24]

well, you're right, you obviously need to make sure that both sets of ram sticks are the same type of ram. The ideal situation is that they are the same brand and the same series of ram (as in that both sets are corsair valueram, for instance) and that both are ddr2 800, if that's what the first set was.
However, usually, your motherboard will take care of problems with the ram voltage etc. It will take the lowest needed voltage and speed of the two sets, and make that the speed of all four banks. So, it will not cause problems, really, but you will sacrifice speed if you don't do your research on what you already have in your system. [edit: lol....so basically, what you said.... I need to remember to read the full post before I reply]

 

[skunksmash]

Imho, the term "mismatched" also refers to the RAM's SPD chips, which is the more important consideration when selecting RAM.

RAM voltages and timings are not set per bank; you do not get to set vdimm for bank 1 and then a separate vdimm for bank 2. The newly purchased memory in one bank could have very different voltage needs than that of the other. Since DDR2 goes from 1.8-2.3 volts, this can lead to problems for at least one bank.

Timings are also not set per bank. The board will look at each bank's SPD chips and set timings according to the lowest common denominator.

We're not disagreeing really, it's just that I think there's a bit more to it than just making sure a matched pair is placed in each channel.

i think i know what your saying & you are correct ..aesthetically speaking you would have 2 different pairs of ram

 

[xguntherc]

H wasn't saying he wanted to ADD ram. He said whats the BEST to run.

and as 4x1 would be cheaper as he already has 2.. and that it would be ok.. it's not best. as best would be to get 2x2. So thats what you should do.

 

[Fumz]

I'm looking to add more memory shortly and was wandering can someone please tell me what size of memory would work best,,,,,,,,,

4 x 1gb DDR2 memory or 2 x 2gb DDR2 memory

Pretty sure he said "add"?

Anyway, my only point was to take care when adding more RAM... as everyone has also noted. Choosing the same speed is no guarantee that things will be fine and neither is choosing the same maker; or even the same model number for that matter. Memory makers can change the SPD chips on RAM on a weekly basis... it all depends in the IC's they use on the PCB. You don't want to have 1 kit undervolted as that can cause all kinds of funky random errors that are almost impossible to diagnose.