Unmatched stick performance question (2x512 vs 512+2gb)

Stringy · 13 Dec 2007 at 17:40

Ahoy,

My setup is currently as follows

Shuttle ST205G
Athlon64 4000+
2x512 Corsair Value Select

How would the performance change if I swapped out one stick for a 2gb stick, so I had 1x512 and 1x2gb? I understand that I'll have more RAM, so it will perform better in that regard, but it will no longer be dual channel, how much of a difference will that make? Would it just be better to get 2x1gb?

Cheers.

furnace · 13 Dec 2007 at 20:56

I would definitely go for 2x1GB. I've no proof to back it up, but I think 2GB in dual channel would be a bigger benefit than 2.5GB in single-channel.

helmutcheese · 13 Dec 2007 at 20:58

Yes Dual Channel is really massive Gains unlike the 12% Gain on NF2 Mobos when it 1st came out.

There was a review, showing 2GB in Dual versus 3GB in Single and in most of the tests the Dual was winner.

sidefxv1 · 13 Dec 2007 at 22:13

I would think it'd depend on the application though. If you're not using the full 2Gb much, then more RAM isn't going to do much. If though, your move from 2Gb in dual to more memory in single means that you're not paging to disk as much, I'd suspect more RAM would win the day.

These days though I'd think 2Gb is more than enough, therefore 2Gb running in dual channel mode is the better bet.