Dual channel vs single stick

cheburns · 10-30-2009, 10:20 PM

I want to get 2 more gigs of ram for my comp. is there an advantage or disadvantage to getting a 2gig stick over 2 1gig sticks running dual channel? I'm looking at this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211066

any advice?

**johnb35** · 10-30-2009, 10:56 PM

2 1gb sticks will run better then 1 2gb stick.

**The_Other_One** · 10-30-2009, 10:58 PM

There will be a performance increase, but the difference would probably pretty minor. Still, if you upgrade, I'd certainly try to get dual channel.

cheburns · 10-31-2009, 02:56 AM

I guess another question I have is how much do the voltages and timing matter? I'm pretty sure the ram I have now is 1.8V and 4-4-4-12 timing... it seems to be a trade off in what i'm seeing now either 1.8V and 5-5-5-18 like the ram i have a link to above or 2V and the quicker timing 4-4-4-12... what is better to have and why? i'm not into gaming hard core if that makes a difference... just looking for some knowledge on the subject to help me make a more informed decision... thanks for any info

2048Megabytes · 11-02-2009, 02:19 AM

The different voltages do matter. If RAM is set to run at a certain voltage and it is running at a different voltage it could obviously cause problems.

I don't think different column access strobe (or CAS) timings matter. But it also depends on the motherboard as well. Some motherboards don't function well when combining different types of RAM modules.

linkin93 · 11-02-2009, 06:35 AM

Dual channel is good if you decide to fill your ram slots... eg: 4x1GB sticks will show more performance than a single 4GB stick.

**Cromewell** · 11-02-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

I don't think different column access strobe (or CAS) timings matter.

Not really. It is faster to get lower timings but you're really not going to see it unless you're benchmarking.

Springy182 · 11-02-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linkin93

Dual channel is good if you decide to fill your ram slots... eg: 4x1GB sticks will show more performance than a single 4GB stick.

Actually there's no difference between 2 slots being populated and 4, it'd be better to have 2x2GB than 4x1GB simply to put less stress on the Northbridge, and for future upgrading.

linkin93 · 11-03-2009, 06:45 AM

I meant a difference between a SINGLE 4GB stick and 4x1GB sticks. the 4x1gb would faster, but by how much who knows.

10-30-2009, 10:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
cheburns Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 581	Dual channel vs single stick I want to get 2 more gigs of ram for my comp. is there an advantage or disadvantage to getting a 2gig stick over 2 1gig sticks running dual channel? I'm looking at this... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211066 any advice? __________________ Ultra X-Blaster ATX Mid-Tower Case with 2 x 120mm Thermaltake Fans ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2.8GHz Processor with Zalman 9500 and AS5 CORSAIR ATX12V 520W Power Supply Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin PC2 6400 Memory BFG Tech GeForce 7950GT 256MB Video Card Western Digital SATAII Hard Drives - 2 x 400GB, 1 x 640GB Memorex 16x DVD+/-RW IDE Drive Samsung 20" 2ms Widescreen 206BW Windows XP Pro x64

10-30-2009, 10:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,616	2 1gb sticks will run better then 1 2gb stick. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

10-30-2009, 10:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,407	There will be a performance increase, but the difference would probably pretty minor. Still, if you upgrade, I'd certainly try to get dual channel. __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

10-31-2009, 02:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
cheburns Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 581	I guess another question I have is how much do the voltages and timing matter? I'm pretty sure the ram I have now is 1.8V and 4-4-4-12 timing... it seems to be a trade off in what i'm seeing now either 1.8V and 5-5-5-18 like the ram i have a link to above or 2V and the quicker timing 4-4-4-12... what is better to have and why? i'm not into gaming hard core if that makes a difference... just looking for some knowledge on the subject to help me make a more informed decision... thanks for any info __________________ Ultra X-Blaster ATX Mid-Tower Case with 2 x 120mm Thermaltake Fans ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Motherboard AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2.8GHz Processor with Zalman 9500 and AS5 CORSAIR ATX12V 520W Power Supply Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin PC2 6400 Memory BFG Tech GeForce 7950GT 256MB Video Card Western Digital SATAII Hard Drives - 2 x 400GB, 1 x 640GB Memorex 16x DVD+/-RW IDE Drive Samsung 20" 2ms Widescreen 206BW Windows XP Pro x64

11-02-2009, 02:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
2048Megabytes Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mainland United States Posts: 2,291	The different voltages do matter. If RAM is set to run at a certain voltage and it is running at a different voltage it could obviously cause problems. I don't think different column access strobe (or CAS) timings matter. But it also depends on the motherboard as well. Some motherboards don't function well when combining different types of RAM modules. __________________ "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." -- Benjamin Franklin Operating Systems: Linux Ubuntu 9.04 and Windows Vista Power Supply: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS Video Card: MSI R3650-T2D512 OC Radeon HD 3650 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Memory: Super Talent PC2-6400 2 gigabytes Processor: Phenom 9550 Quad-Core (2.2 gigahertz)

11-02-2009, 06:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
linkin93 Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NSW, Australia Age: 16 Posts: 2,330	Dual channel is good if you decide to fill your ram slots... eg: 4x1GB sticks will show more performance than a single 4GB stick. __________________ System CM Storm Scout - Asus P5N-E SLI - Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 3.02Ghz - 2x1GB Corsair XMS2 @ 900mhz - Sapphire HD 3870 - WD 250GB Caviar SE16 - SHAW 860W - Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Perhiprials Logitech G5 Mouse - Logitech R-10 Speakers - Targus Keyboard - HP L1470 17" 1280x1024 Monitor

11-03-2009, 06:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
linkin93 Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NSW, Australia Age: 16 Posts: 2,330	I meant a difference between a SINGLE 4GB stick and 4x1GB sticks. the 4x1gb would faster, but by how much who knows. __________________ System CM Storm Scout - Asus P5N-E SLI - Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 3.02Ghz - 2x1GB Corsair XMS2 @ 900mhz - Sapphire HD 3870 - WD 250GB Caviar SE16 - SHAW 860W - Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Perhiprials Logitech G5 Mouse - Logitech R-10 Speakers - Targus Keyboard - HP L1470 17" 1280x1024 Monitor

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