RAM debacle

[CptHawkeye]

Hey all, I currently have 512 pc3200 ram, and obviously I'm looking for more now. Ideally, I'd like to go two gigs, but the price is a little steep, so lets rule that out for now. Basically, I have the following options, unless I'm missing something.

A: Get just another 512 stick, run it in duel channel for 1 gig total.

B: Get a 1 gig stick, install it along with my existing 512 for 1.5 gigs total.

C: Get two more sticks of 512, run them in three slots for a total of 1.5 gigs.


I'm not sure if the last two options would suffer any performance hits because of that, any thoughts?

 

[bosox188]

Go with the 1 gig in dual channel. If you wanted better than 1 gig than you would want 2 gigs in dual channel, not 1.5 gigs.

 

[CptHawkeye]

Well, to make a long story short, I'm wanting this computer to alst two years, since I decided not to go with a full upgrade to a PCI express mobo, and hence will be using a 6800 series graphics card, I will be doing a complete new build at that point. But until then, I dont want to upgrade again, and I wonder if 1 gig will last.

 

[Glirk Dient]

Stick with the 512 as 2 sticks of 512 is faster than 2 sticks of 1gb each in dual channel. If you have only 2 memory slots, then you may want to get 2 gigs...but really you only need 1gig.

 

[bosox188]

1 gig probably won't last 2 years. I would get 2 gigs if you can.

 

[CptHawkeye]

I have four slots...if that makes any difference.

 

[Glirk Dient]

Then get another stick of 512 now, and when you need that 2 gigs get another set of 512.

 

[CptHawkeye]

What, may I ask, would be the problem with going to 1.5 gigs?

 

[Glirk Dient]

the fact that 512 sticks are faster, and you won't need anything more than 1gig for a while, so you could save some money now and then spend some later instead of spend more and and spend even more later.

Since you have 4 slots do what you want. It doesn't matter a whole lot, just the quantity you have. Go ahead and get a 1 gig now...in any case you can keep upgrading if you have 4 slots.

Are you sure you mobo has dual channel? I don't think it would boot up with 1 stick if it is...maybe that's just mobo specific or yours disables it or something. I know mine won't boot with 1 or 3 sticks...dual channel needs something else to pair with.

 

[psyno]

What, may I ask, would be the problem with going to 1.5 gigs?

If he went to 1.5 GB by adding a 1 GB stick to his .5 one, he wouldn't be able to run it in dual-channel mode, which is much faster than single-channel.

Get the 512 MB stick. If 1 GB really isn't enough at some point in the future, you can get two more sticks (512 MB or 1 GB each) at that time, when they'll be cheaper anyway.

 

[CptHawkeye]

Ok, looks like I'm going for just a stick of 512, thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[CptHawkeye]

Actually, just thought of something. IF I decided to go with buying three sticks of the 512 ram now, would I be slowing my system down in any way, running with four channels? Is doing this a wise decision?