Splitting matched pair RAM advisable?

han_solo · 22 Oct 2009 at 18:22

hi there,

Need someone to tell me if i'm being an idiot here or not.

My idea is to buy 2x2gb of matched pair RAM. Use a stick of 2gb in each machine (ie. use separate stick of 2gb in one machine and the other stick in the other machine).

Maybe 6 months down the line when i decide to do a memory upgrade, i will combine the match pair ram onto a single machine.

I will then buy separate matched ram for the other machine.

Good idea or not?

I only have two slots in each machine so i want to eventually max it out with 2x2gb match pair ram in each machine (i'm on a budget here you see).

thanks for taking a peek!

PhillyDee · 22 Oct 2009 at 18:28

That would work fine. Only difference is they are guaranteed to work in Dual Channel.

han_solo · 22 Oct 2009 at 18:48

hey cool! thanks for your help there... one more thing though... do you think my 'plan' is a good one given my budgetry constraints and future requirements?

(please be gentle with your words

)

mattyfez · 22 Oct 2009 at 18:58

Yes would be fine.... but bear in mind DDR2 and DDR3 are not compatable, if you build a machine at a later date it will most likely be DDR3 only by then (for anything decent anyway) -

Just something to bear in mind.

han_solo · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:07

many thanks for confirming that.

Slightly off topic... have you guys noticed something about the price in RAM in general?? It was only a few months ago that i bought 2x2gb xms2 corsair 800mhz ram for about £40... now before you tell me they're discontinued, i've noticed equivalent ram is serrrrrrrrrrriously expensive now!!

how come??

PhillyDee · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:18

Supply and demand. Production has switched to DDR3 now. DDR2 is nearing EOL.

mattyfez · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:31

Yup, I bought some high end ddr2 corsair dominator 4gb for £60 a few months back for my rig, , and built a machine for a family member yesterday and almost fell of my chair at the price of ddr2 ram... same thing happened with ddr(1)

han_solo · 22 Oct 2009 at 22:43

I don't think the supply and demand theory makes sense here.

if anything, demand should be dropping off for DDR2 and manufacturers should be reducing prices to get rid of old stock... not the other way round.

PhillyDee · 22 Oct 2009 at 22:47

Supply is thin on the ground as the fab plants making it are mainly producing DDR3. There is also demand still there. Its not EOL and no one wants it, quite the opposite. Demand is still high, but the supply is low. Hence higher prices as the stuff is still popular.