RAM: 2x 2GB vs 4x 1GB

[rvanwyk]

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

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

lol, not 1x4gb but 4x1gb heheh..

xp only handles up to 4gb but yes, perhaps in the future i might want to add more.

 

[Glordit]

lol, not 1x4gb but 4x1gb heheh..

xp only handles up to 4gb but yes, perhaps in the future i might want to add more.

oops, lol my bad!

I am not too sure about max RAM Support for XP, I looked on a MS website and they say since 2005, XP Pro can handle 4Gb's then again some people say that they only get 3.25/3.5GB's - Conflict of opinions?

 

[.Froot.]

oops, lol my bad!

I am not too sure about max RAM Support for XP, I looked on a MS website and they say since 2005, XP Pro can handle 4Gb's then again some people say that they only get 3.25/3.5GB's - Conflict of opinions?

Take M$'s stuff with a pinch of salt. They claim it can, but the computer only recognizes around 3.2-3.5GB of it. The rest goes to waste. Any 32-bit kernel can only recognise 4GB of RAM (although modified kernels such as some Linux kernels can recognise more)

 

[masticore]

My 2c:

4 x 1GB would probably be faster since the timings of 1GB modules tend to be faster than those of 2GB modules. That said, the difference is most likely academic and would probably only be noticable in benchmarks.

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

My 2c:

4 x 1GB would probably be faster since the timings of 1GB modules tend to be faster than those of 2GB modules. That said, the difference is most likely academic and would probably only be noticable in benchmarks.

If you are buying plain RAM (not overpriced performance stuff) then 1Gb and 2Gb sticks both probably have CL5 timings. You don't usually get 1GB sticks at CL4 without paying a quite a substantial amount more for them and 2Gb sticks do CL5 fine.

The difference would come in overclocking I supose, but it doesn't sound like the OP is planning to OC.