RAM: 2x 2GB vs 4x 1GB

R

rvanwyk

Expert Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
1,849
Reaction score
115
Location
Johannesburg, ZA
hey

looking at performance, what (if any) is the difference between having 2x 2GB (lets say DDR2-800) and 4x 1GB (same spec) ram modules?

ignore the physical slot availability differences, just performance?
 
The RAM will run in dual channel (that is, doubling the bandwidth between the CPU and RAM from 64-bit to 128-bit). However, Tom's Hardware found that there is no significant performance improvement over single channel.

Have a look here. :)

Some motherboards have problems when all four slots are filled, though. Get the 2x2GB ;)
 
Last edited:
WKJ?:beanie said:
Tom's Hardware found that there is no significant performance improvement over single channel./QUOTE]

I can disprove that.
I had 2 512MB on my old P4 system running in single channel (I had no idea of dual channel and colours) I ran CSS a bit laggy, learnt about dual channel and made it that. Performance gains were immense, no lag at all :D
Click to expand...
 
boramk said:
I can disprove that.
I had 2 512MB on my old P4 system running in single channel (I had no idea of dual channel and colours) I ran CSS a bit laggy, learnt about dual channel and made it that. Performance gains were immense, no lag at all :D
Click to expand...

I'm also quite sure that I found a performance increase when I switched to dual channel. But I guess they don't see that as a "significant" increase :D
 
tomshardware has become less and less reputable over the years, unfortunately :/

I, too, have experienced "significant" performance increases switching from single- to dual-channel
 
you guys are confused. lol 2x 2gb identical modules will run in dual channel mode as well as 4x 1gb modules.the question is is 2x 2gb faster that 4x 1gb or vice versa?i personally dont think there is a difference but would like your opinions
 
HavocXphere said:
Go for 2x2. 1gb modules will be outdated before 2gb modules.
Click to expand...

well, i only have 4 slots and xp can only handle 4gb (f$ck vista). so the only time the "outdated" problem will be an issue is when one more of the modules becomes faulty. then i can just buy 2gb modules
 
Last edited:
rvanwyk said:
you guys are confused. lol 2x 2gb identical modules will run in dual channel mode as well as 4x 1gb modules.the question is is 2x 2gb faster that 4x 1gb or vice versa?i personally dont think there is a difference but would like your opinions
Click to expand...

Oops! :eek: Should have read the initial post properly ;)

I think it'll be, for all intents and purposes, the same
 
You still have dual channel with 4X1GB modules. There is a chance that your mobo might not like 4 slots being filled as much as two, but that was more a problem with AMD and having to move to a 2T command rate.

I don't think it's really much of a problem. If you can get better/cheaper RAM in a 4X1GB config then I'd go with that.
 
Ekhaatvensters said:
You still have dual channel with 4X1GB modules. There is a chance that your mobo might not like 4 slots being filled as much as two, but that was more a problem with AMD and having to move to a 2T command rate.

I don't think it's really much of a problem. If you can get better/cheaper RAM in a 4X1GB config then I'd go with that.
Click to expand...

it seems 2x2 will be cheaper than 4x1 but im not worried about that. just wondering which is faster but by the sounds of things i dont think there will be a difference
 
boramk said:
WKJ?:beanie said:
Tom's Hardware found that there is no significant performance improvement over single channel./QUOTE]

I can disprove that.
I had 2 512MB on my old P4 system running in single channel (I had no idea of dual channel and colours) I ran CSS a bit laggy, learnt about dual channel and made it that. Performance gains were immense, no lag at all :D
Click to expand...

Yeah sure 4x1GB is faster, but firstly not to be worthwhile, secondly what if you want to upgrade your RAM to >4GB, and thirdly, 4x1Gb costs a lot more than 2x2GB.

I have yet to see WKJ?:beanie to be proved wrong when it comes to computers.
Click to expand...
 
rvanwyk said:
you guys are confused. lol 2x 2gb identical modules will run in dual channel mode as well as 4x 1gb modules.the question is is 2x 2gb faster that 4x 1gb or vice versa?i personally dont think there is a difference but would like your opinions
Click to expand...

Oi, I'm not confused :p I just said that the RAM will run in dual channel, but there isn't really too much of a performance increase in any case (apparently) but you should go for the 2 x 2GB just in case your motherboard has problems when all four of the RAM slots are filled. Where'd the confusion set in? :D
 
Personally I would go the way 2X2Gb...Its simpler and as Beanie stated less chance of motherboard related problems...

(PS statistically you have greater chance of something going wrong with 4 chips in 4 slots in comparison with 2 chips in 2 slots ... thats 4 things vs 8 that could break and if the performance difference is not noticeable then that should be enough reason)
 
mmm just went with 1 x 2GB chip got 3 slots open and space for up to 8gb's
in the end it's up to you :p

As for 2 x 2GB / 1 x 4GB
There is something like a 2-3% difference in Daul channel vs. non-Daul channel setups which equals nothing :)
 
If there is a performance difference between 2 x 2gig and 4 x 1Gig ram it will be so small u will have to run benchmarking to see the difference .It not something u will pick up in games or any other applications.
 
hmm, there is no immediate improvement noticable with 2X2Gb vs 4X1Gb - however, if you ever intend to overclock, you will have more problems with 4X1Gb as apposed to the 2X2Gb, this is purely an issue with the memory controller and voltage regulation. You'd be better off with 2X2Gb, but there will be no performance increase at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X