[-=carlos=-]

I currently have 2 x 512MB sticks of very nice Kingmax PC4000 ram running in dual channel mode of course.

I'm a BF2 player which as any of you know is one helluva hog when it comes to system resources so I'm thinking about going to 2GB...however, I've heard that using the second set of banks will slow the memory down?

Is it best to have:

4 x 512MB sticks of Kingmax PC4000 at 2.5,4,4,7 and 516MHz DDR

or

2 x 1GB sticks of Kingmax PC3200 ram probably at standard as it's not the hardcore version of that brand i.e it doesnt come with any guaranteed overclock headroom (5% for the other stuff )

Thanks.

Oh, cost is I guess as always an issue...well, I think seeing as it comes with a lifetime guarantee I could easily sell my current ram for £40 each totalling £80 with the 1GB stuff at about £70 each that a cost to me at present of £60 to upgrade. OR the PC4000 stuff is very well proced at overclock.co.uk at £90 for a pair so this option is actually £30 more.

Ta to anyone that can help me decide or even provide evidence as to which will be the better option.

 

[manic]

It shouldnt slow you down, you will still be in dual mode. Thats the way it
is with my p4c800-deluxe. As long as all slots are populated, with the same
type of ram. The problem arises when one of those sticks of ram, uses a bit
more voltage. If they are not compatible, might throw you back into single
mode. System will still run ok, but does not utilize the dual ddr mode. If
you use 4 sticks the chances are better for incompatibility vs just 2 sticks.
That is the way i understand it. I did that exact same thing but using
corsair 4000, 4x256,,it worked out very well.

 

[linderman]

Welcome to the forum:

It has been reported by benchmarks that running two 1 gig sticks in dual channel mode is slightly faster than running four sticks of 512mb ram / I highly doubt you could see the difference though in actual gaming as long as you are able to run in dual channel mode !!

Its up to you ?????? If you are going to make the jump though to two sticks of 1gig ram / then I would for sure buy the overclockers ram !!!!


regards

joe

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Hi,

I too would go for the two sticks of 1 gig each rather than the 4 sticks of 512. While they both should produce the same in theory, I am of the opinion that it is more likely to get a perfect match in memory with two sticks than it is four sticks.

Some have reported the same as maniac reported about kicking out of dual mode. I have not had that experience, but wanted to share what has been reported to me.

The closer your sticks match, the better performance you should see, but I doubt also that you will see a difference that is big enough to measure. If you want to give yourself every option, then opt for the two big sticks.

 

[-=carlos=-]

I'd be buying the same type of ram for the last two banks so it shouldn't be a problem, and seeing as the PC4000 stuff is much quicker I should get that then by the sounds of it?

Afterall, I wouldnt be buying 2 x 1GB of PC4000, it'd be the PC3200 at only 400MHz DDR.

I wouldn't even be asking if I were able to buy 2 x 1GB of PC4000!!! I've looked everywhere, they dont seem to do it.

 

[please]

@ -=carlos=-
If you are OCing, you may not be able to get that same OC with 4 matching sticks. You will need a decent OC(at least 10%) with 4 matching sticks to be faster in gaming than 2X1GB of PC3200 non-OC. Make sure you have a good power supply and cooling, as more volts are needed and more heat generated with 4 sticks.

Try some benchmarks before and after and report back with your findings to help others with this question in the future :sayyes: .

You could always try both solutions and see which performs better, then sell the losers :grin: :deveous: ...

These OCZ 2GB (2x1024) D/C Kit PN - OCZ5002048ELGE-K certainly could be useful to you. They might be hard to find and pricey...from their website, check here for dealers. They even have their own very-active forum ...20-30 posts a day and attended by OCZ company guys. Matter of fact, they comment on your situation...just saw this post after researching for my post, so I am not going to re-do my post, I'll just add the link. Surf around there a bit and see what others have experienced...yes...I am a big OCZ fan.

So, my vote would be...If you are going to OC 10% or more, you'll be OK with the 4X512 PC4000. If you are not OCing or stability or future expansion is an option, go with the 2X1gb PC3200. Or get the best of both worlds and get the 2X1GB PC4000 OCZ stuff

Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[-=carlos=-]

Cheers for the reply but those are very very costly and although I like my PC, I don't love it that much!!! :laugh:

I can get Kingmax PC3200 'Turbo' ram for £70 a stick and since these sticks have been absolutely flawless to me i'd like to stick with the brand.

I have a sandra bench from a couple of weeks ago of about 4996 (unbuffered one that i think of the two - well the quicker anyway). Anyone care to give me a figure for 4 x 512MB of PC3200 and 2 x 1GB sticks of PC3200?

EDIT - dabs do a 2GB kit of two PC4200 corsair for only £138. Ok so it has a CAS of 4 but as far as i've seen so far in my tweaking, higher MHz always equals better performance over timings, and these babies run at 533MHz DDR. I'm getting quite tempted!!

http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/memoryandaccessories/productView.htm?quicklinx=3G0K

 

[-=carlos=-]

Tell a lie the D2 bit at the end means DDR2, you know what dabs are like for lack of info on their product pages

 

[ebackhus]

Mhz != real perfomance.

Lower latency will give you higher performance than higher Mhz will. That's why many are wary of getting DDR2 systems.

 

[-=carlos=-]

Mhz != real perfomance.

Lower latency will give you higher performance than higher Mhz will. That's why many are wary of getting DDR2 systems.

Here suggests otherwise:

http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/memory/Kingmax_PC4000_5.html

More relaxed latency timings and higher MHz give much better benchmarks.

 

[whodat]

arent there issues involved with that board when all memory banks are populated?
i could have the boards mixed up.

 

[-=carlos=-]

I've looked at the manual and it says that 4 banks at 400MHz DDR are supported so the first worry about 333 is out the window...it's just now a case of whether it'll take 4 at 516MHz DDR!!!
Still, another report on this ram i was reading said that it can be uinderclocked to PC3200 speeds and work perfectly well at the magical 2-2-2-5 timings if all else fails.

 

[manic]

Take a chance the pilgrims did,,lol, crash free bios,,,,

 

[ebackhus]

Benchmarks don't always represent real-world use.

It's not how fast you move your legs, but how wide your stride is.

 

[Wozer]

FYI..I am using 4 sticks of 512 Kingston KVR400x from the QVL list, and they are working just fine in dual channel mode...I can OC my P4 3.0 Northwood to 3.6 easily, though admittedly I have only done this as a test, and have not beat the crap out of it to see what happened...

 

[linderman]

Maniac: I is still chuckling Pilgrim




cheers


joe