4 GB RAM Your opinions

[DeMeQ]

Hello! I would like to buy 4GB RAM and I'd like to ask you for opinions. What is now better 2x2 or 4x1 ? I now there have been many topics about it but some of theam are old in others there is no answer. Unfortunately in polsih shops I havent found any mushkin 2x2 kits. From 2x2 I can only choose from Ocz and g.skill, patriot but all 2x1gb are available. My mobo is p5w dh deluxe. What would be better? I'd likie to add that I don't want to overclock them extremely because most of my time I spend with games and im not interested in PI and other benchmarks. But small OC would be nice.

[bassie]

I would go for 4x1GB, because of the price. 2x2GB costs so much more then 4x1GB. The only thing is, is that 4x1GB is a bit thougher for your MCH. So you might need a little more V's on it.

[saaya]

Welcome to XtremeSystems

Well first of all id make sure you really need 4gb
Most people dont. If you really need or want 4gb then yeah, try to get 2x2gb

[DeMeQ]

Now prices of RAM are really low and I have an opportunity to change my memory. I play a lot of games so i will need a lot of RAM and I use Windows Vista. Do you think that Ocz vista upgrade is a good choice?? For normal user like me who don't compete in PI faster RAM doesn't make big difference espacially in games. Im sure i need more RAM mabe not in the moment but in close future. Now i would like to ask you for piece of advice what is better 2x2 or 4x1. I think I don't need great OC but stability.

[quicksilverXP]

4x1GB. You can get quality memory for the price with this option vs. 2x2GB. 2x2GB is good only if you are willing to spend the money for a good pair. And I doubt you will have to worry about going MORE than 4GB for a while... and by that time you probably will be on a different OS and deciding what DDR3 modules to buy.

Save yourself the money and just get 4x1GB (that is, like Saaya addressed, if you really NEED 4GB).

Go to mwave and you can get a nice set of Crucial 5300s for like 75 bucks.

[cruise]

It makes a noticeable difference to games in vista 64bit, I have tried with just 2GB and then added an extra 4GB and results were immediate.

Although I'm fairly sensitive to small lag that others might not care about, in oblivion I wouldn't be able to enjoy it without a raptor or something faster to remove the drive thrashing.

It's not the most economical choice for better performance, keep that in mind. If you havn't already upgraded everything else you should do that first.

[DeMeQ]

Heh I still don't know what is better. I won't add more RAM. I go to studies in 2 years so i will buy new PC with ddr3.
What is more stable and won't make problems with my pc? I don't count on extremely OC because it doesen't make big difference for me if RAM is OCed or not.
If i get 4x1 I'll probably get g.skill hz 6400
If i decide for 2x2 I will choose between:

4Gb G.Skill DDR2 PC2-6400 MQ Series 800MHz Dual Channel kit
4Gb G.Skill DDR2 PC2-6400 PQ CL5 Series 800MHz Dual Channel kit
4Gb OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Vista Upgrade Kit (5-6-6-15) 2x2Gb

Please give me some advice.

btw. I try to RMA my crucial 10th anniversary but they offer ballistix 5300 any suggestions what can I do about it ??

[mustang9621]

Before you jump on the band wagon and get 4 Gig's of of ram you need to look at your system OS. A 32 bit OS can only address a total of 4 Gig's this includes video memory, system memory and ram. If your graphics card /cards has a lot of memory installed on them then you may not be able to use 4 Gigs.

Example two 8800GTX = 1.5 Gig of memory addresses required, subtracted from the 4 gig total = 2.5 gig's worth of addresses remaining Installing more than 2.5 Gig's of memory in this system would be a waste of money.

As a general rule of thumb installing more then 3 Gig's in a 32bit OS is a waste of money

[DeMeQ]

I know. I'll install Vista 64bit just when I get my RAM. Could you help me with my decision??

[mustang9621]

I believe Vista X64 supports from 8 up to 128 Gigs of ram depending on the version. I would go with the 2X2Gig set up, as this would leave ram slots open if I needed to add more memory. Any of the modules you listed are good choices, pick the one your budget can best afford

[DeMeQ]

But if we don't consider open ram slots what would be better 2x2 or 4x1?? I will probably buy new PC with ddr3 and I'm not going to add more RAM to that one.

[mustang9621]

I would still use a 2X2 Gig set, if you fill all four slots the memory controllers drop from dual channel to signal channel. Using 2x2 gets you four gigs in dual channel mode and leaves two slots open just in case you may want more. DDR3 is at least a year away from a price vs performance investment

[DeMeQ]

So I think I pick up 2x2 if it's more stable and less problematic than 4x1. Do you know something about OCing 4Gb G.Skill DDR2 PC2-6400 PQ CL5 Series 800MHz Dual Channel kit (blue)??

[lowfat]

I really do not know how well that motherboard would handle 4X1GB of ram. I know my P5B-D had major stability issues when using 4X1GB, although my P35-DQ6 now has no problems at all. Since it might be a hassle with that motherboard I would likely also go for the 2X2GB.

[papatsonis]

I would still use a 2X2 Gig set, if you fill all four slots the memory controllers drop from dual channel to signal channel.

in which parallel universe is the above statement correct...??? if you speak for intel.. then state that..(which i doubt 99.9%.....) , in AM2 , the DC works like charm with 4x1gb ram..

my 2 cents..

[Speederlander]

Running 8 gig Mushkin @ 1:1 with 475 FSB (3.325 GHz, 475 x 7) on my QX6700. P5K-Dlx. RAM timings 5-4-4-8, transaction boost enabled and at 1. Rock solid stable reading 1.34 vcore in Windows and 1.33 vcore under load.

Also 24 hrs prime stable @ 475 x 8 = 3.8 GHz. Needs 1.6125 vcore set in BIOS, tad under 1.6 vcore at load. RAM timings the same as for x7 multi.

All on air, TRUE 120.

Lots of RAM is loved by P5K-Dlx.

[DeMeQ]

Does p5w dh deluxe have any problems with 4x1 or 2x2 ??

[lowfat]

I would still use a 2X2 Gig set, if you fill all four slots the memory controllers drop from dual channel to signal channel. Using 2x2 gets you four gigs in dual channel mode and leaves two slots open just in case you may want more. DDR3 is at least a year away from a price vs performance investment

incorrect. 4GB is still in dual channel.

[lowfat]

Does p5w dh deluxe have any problems with 4x1 or 2x2 ??

Pretty sure it is possible, but you might need to have quite a bit more voltage into the MCH as well as play around with the subtimings a lot.

[DeMeQ]

Sorry but I don't understand :P On p5w dh deluxe there is no problem with 2x2 but if I put 4x1 I would have to select higher voltage on mch right ??

[kojiro91]

i think both of them.. 2x2gb, 4x 1 gb.. got to raise a little v at MCH

[DeMeQ]

Now I am sure I will choose one from those:

Ocz Vista Upgrade
G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
2x F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ

The price is exactly the same so which is better for my motherboard, mabe you have P5W DH DELUXE with one of this memory?? How it works? I just want to make sure because I don't want to have problems and send it back from Poland to UK.

[kojiro91]

if you run the memory at default.. i think there will be no problem...

[DeMeQ]

Ok thank you guys for advice. I think that when my crucial ballistix 2x1gb arrive from RMA I will add another 2x1gb ballistix kit and if it won't work I ll get 2x2 g.skill.

[zert]

Example two 8800GTX = 1.5 Gig of memory addresses required, subtracted from the 4 gig total = 2.5 gig's worth of addresses remaining Installing more than 2.5 Gig's of memory in this system would be a waste of money.

this is so wrong