4x1Gb vs 2x2Gb PC6400

[f61]

About how much of a performance hit does one take between the two set-ups in subject. The 2x1Gb sticks are dropping into the basement for even 4-4-4-12 Quality sticks like G.Skill. By comparison 2x2Gb Quality sticks still well over 2 bennies. (Except the G.Skill 5-5-5-15 at 1.8-1.9V).

For the money looks like 4x1 by $50!

What say the respected experts?

TIA
f61

 

[f61]

OOPS!, it looked like I missed the answer to this query. Mods feel free to bust the posts. THanks

f61

 

[Track]

4x1GB is much better. Better price/performance by far, and u really aren't even going to need more than 4GB of RAM. Or, if u do then just get the P35 board with 2 slots for DDR2 and 4 slots for DDR3.

 

[wrath64]

4x1GB is much better. Better price/performance by far, and u really aren't even going to need more than 4GB of RAM. Or, if u do then just get the P35 board with 2 slots for DDR2 and 4 slots for DDR3.

It's the other way around, p35 MB have 2 ddr3 slots and 4 ddr2 😀 Unless one just came out as I was typing... :lol:

 

[darkstar782]

And you cant use DDR2 and DDR3 at the same time anyway, Its one or the other.

 

[Track]

4x1GB is much better. Better price/performance by far, and u really aren't even going to need more than 4GB of RAM. Or, if u do then just get the P35 board with 2 slots for DDR2 and 4 slots for DDR3.

It's the other way around, p35 MB have 2 ddr3 slots and 4 ddr2 😀 Unless one just came out as I was typing... :lol:

You're right. I was thinking of 2x1GB.

 

[Hatman]

meh, you cant ever have enough ram 😀

 

[brick88]

i read somewhere that using up 4 dimm slots for ram reduces the maximum speed to 667mhz. it has something to do with the bandwidth. if this is the case i would opt for the 2x2gb.

 

[jt001]

Go 2x2GB, in most cases it will be faster, and on most boards leave you with 2 extra slots for upgrades down the road.

 

[Track]

Go 2x2GB, in most cases it will be faster, and on most boards leave you with 2 extra slots for upgrades down the road.

No, it wont be faster. It will be slower because there arent 2GB modules that are as good as 1GB modules.

And ur never going to need more than 4GB of RAM.

 

[Dahak]

Although 4X1 gig sticks are nice,having 2x2gig sticks is better.Reason being is with the 2 2gig sticks you can set your command rate to 1 time instead of 2,thereby increasing overall performance.Unfortunately with 4 sticks of ram,your command rate will only run 2 times.This is done to ensure compatability between the memory sticks.Goodluck.

Dahak

AMD X2 5600+ @ 2.8ghz(stock)
M2N32-SLI DELUXE MB
2 GIGS DDR2 800 RAM
THERMALTAKE 850WATT PSU
7950GT KO(WAITING FOR MY OTHER TO COME BACK FROM RMA)
ACER 22IN. LCD
SMILIDON RAIDMAX GAMING CASE
80GIG/250gig SATA2 HD's
XP MCE

 

[darkstar782]

LOTS of misinformation here.

1. Command rate needing to be set to 2T for 4 DIMMs is an issue with the Athlon 64 memory controller. We do not know if the OP has an Athlon or a Core 2. All a 2T command rate does is posts the command to the modules for 2 cycles rather than 1, and is much less of a limitation than the horrible latencies in 2GB modules anyway.

2. While 2x1GB is better than 4x512MB, the same CANNOT be said about 2x2GB vs 4x1GB. While 1GB DDR2 DIMMs have been out for a long time and they are now cheap and have nice speeds and timings, 2GB modules usually cap at 667MHz (there are a very small selection that will run at 800MHz for $$$), and have horrible latencies.

5-5-5-15 @ 667MHz is not uncommon for 2GB modules, while 1GB modules come in 3-3-3-12 @ 667MHz and 4-4-4-12 @ 800MHz.

3. 2GB modules are significantly more expensive in terms of $/GB.


Basically, unless you can forsee a future need for 6GB or 8GB, and by the time games need that you'll be using DDR3 anyway, go with the 4x1GB.

 

[Hatman]

Cant ever have too much ram 😀

and 667 isnt exactly slow is it..

 

[bfellow]

G.Skill has some 1GB RAM that runs at 4-4-3-5 timings @ 800 mhz. I wonder how much tighter it can get @667 mhz.

 

[f61]

One should presume that this is for the signature build at bottom of post, and it will be an AMx2. But when the price cuts are done in about a month, I might very well go for a C2D6600 or Q6600 (Q66 a bit more than I need, but with vista... who knows 😉 ) And judging the graphx card, I'm not a HC gamer, but interested. No SLi/XF forseeable, but an upgrade to DX10.

Considering the 2T aspect there are some 2x2Gb GSkill that run 4-4-4-12 2T 1.8-1.9V. about $215 and dropping. 2 sets of 2x1Gb same manufacturer and latency: Volt is 1.9 cost $90 each = $180.

Thanks for discussion so far.
f61

 

[darkstar782]

Considering the 2T aspect there are some 2x2Gb GSkill that run 4-4-4-12 2T 1.8-1.9V. about $215 and dropping. 2 sets of 2x1Gb same manufacturer and latency: Volt is 1.9 cost $90 each = $180.

According to the G.Skill website, the lowest latency 800MHz (PC-6400) 2x2GB stuff is 5-5-5-15. This is bad.

There are 1GB modules there with 3-4-3-8 and 4-4-4-12 timings @ 800MHz.

You can get 2GB modules with 4-4-4-12 timings only at 667MHz, while 3-3-3-10 memory is common in 1GB modules at this speed.

These timings make FAR more difference than 2T or 1T command rate.

Micron D9 IC's are only available in 1GB modules, meaning you get much more overclockable RAM in 1GB varieties (assuming you are careful and get RAM with D9s)

 

[phassat]

OCZ DDR2 6400 800 VISTA 4GB RAM 2x2GB
800MHz DDR2

* CL 5-6-6-15
* 4GB (2x2048) dual channel optimized kit
* Unbuffered
* Copper Mirrored XTC Heatspreader*
* Lifetime Warranty
* 1.8-2.0 Volts
* 240 Pin DIMM

Is this memory good?

 

[phassat]

OCZ Platinum XTC 2GB DDR2 800MHz PC2-6400

and how about that one?I'm looking for memory for p35... What is the voltage limit for memory at p35? I'm considering about this one as well:
OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 SLI-Ready Edition Dual Channel, OCZ2N1066SR2GK

 

[f61]

@darkstar...

Well, in a way you're right about the 2x2Gb G.Skill ram. Its rated 1.8V and 5-5-5-15, and thats what it boots up as. As I look around at other builds and boards, not all boards boot up as 1.8V. From what I've read about this situation, there is a tendancy for these chips to default as 5-5-5-15 at any boot up. Quite a few readers/owners have pointed out quite correctly to check voltage when using these particular chips. If its 1.9V at bootup, then set the latencies as 4-4-4-12. I don't see anything about auto-detection, and what THAT voltage/latency is. I'll keep looking.

f61

 

[Hatman]

Only worth it if you have a board that has only 2 ddr2 slots or you want a whole 8gb ram, which would make vista extremely fast.

 

[f61]

I see that newegg has changed the way they're selling larger forms of RAM, notably the afore mentioned 2x2Gb sticks. Well, it seems that the egg is now also selling them as single sticks of 2Gb with a notice about use in x64 only systems. There are still offerings of them as 2x2Gb located here.

As such, this link is for the 2x1Gb PC6400 pair.

This is the link for the 2x2Gb pair. Note most o/c at the egg will report MHz not latency. One should presume x64 sysops.

f61