Legit Reviews

Ok so I have four slots on my MB. I only have two sticks of 1Gig each. As long as I select the same dual channel kit I have now can I buy two more 1 Gig sticks for a total of 4 Gig and still be in two channel or do I have to scrap what I have a get a 2X2 set??

doesn't really even matter what brand you use, just make sure its the same specs as far as timings and voltage primarily

Ok so I was looking around in my "stuff" and I found a 2 GIG stick of hynix pc 5300U. I know its a bit slower than my PC2 6400 but wouln't 4 gig at 5300 be bettert han 2 at 6400 ? can I slot it and gett he 4 gig or will the speed difference cancel out some of it?

performance wise no, with Windows operations depends on your applications. if you needing to purchase memory to make 4gig's it would be best to get 2 sticks of 1 gig set of 6400

I know the ideal would be to buy 2 more Gig that matches what I have now but that would cost $60. In several months when I upgrade to a new MB and new Ram that $60 would be wasted. If I could get by adding the one stick of 2 gig 5300 for a while that would save me the $60. If I have 2 sticks of PC2 6400 1gig each and I add one 2 gig stick of PC2 5300 does that equal 4 gig of PC2 5300? If yes wouldn't 4 gig of PC2 5300 be better short term than 2 gig of PC2 6400. I know I could just slot it and find out but a written answer would save me the trouble.

the memory be off balanced running with three sticks. try it out and see how it works for you. 4 gigs of memory will give you a bit more breathing room on your windows tasks. just make sure the 2 1 gig sticks are paired up in dual channel mode.

I have been running one 1x2GB in one channel and 2x1GB in second channel for a while now and haven't noticed any problems. I even thought about making it 2+1GB in both channels, but decided I will change platform as my next upgrade.

Thank you. I will slot it and see what i get.

I ran 3Dmark 06 and got a 10128 with my current setup. I slotted the 2 gig stick making my total 4 gig on one channel and the score dropped to 9897. Not a large drop but it does support the less in Dual channel is better than more in single. It just now occured to me , I doubled the total ram and halved the channels thus giving me the exact same data trannsfer rate...the reduction must have been due to the frequency reduction from slotting a slower stick. So I would need 8 gig in single channel to match 4 gig in dual.

your performance drop was from the drop in memory speed. the next question you need to ask is that little performance hit worth it?

I figured the drop was from speed. Considering the drop in 3dmark does that not also mean that there would be zero benefit from addingt he extra 2 gig?? My hunch is yes zero benefit.

try other programs games etc. not necessarily benchmarks, and see how it handles itself. that will determine the real outcome of your memory situation.

I see that new egg has a corsair value select kit 2x2gig for $59 and they also have a 2x1 gig XMS 2 for $54 which matches what I have now. Which is better to have 4 X 1 gig of XMS 2 or to have 2X2 gig of value select? the price difference is very small. LAstly can off sized DIMMs rum in dual channel...one 2 gig stick and one 1 gig stick?

I would say go with XMS.

XMS here as well. Never had any trouble with it.

Merlin wrote: LAstly can off sized DIMMs rum in dual channel...one 2 gig stick and one 1 gig stick?

it is one of them try it and see how it turns out for ya. 1 of three things will happen, it will work with no issues, will not work, or work and give you problems. You just got to love computers and their uncertainty. I tried it once or twice myself and the outcome was rather interesting.

oh also praying to the gods of overclock may help out.

definatly go with xms and make sure you pick pc6400