Which is faster?

Due to memory issues that I can't prove is coming from the chips themselves, I'm upgrading my motherboard and ram.

I've got 4 1gb sticks coming.. and I have two choices.. 3 gb total memory and stick the 1 stick in another machine I'm patching together for someone or 4 gb in dual channel (2x2) and make them wait another week for something else.


So.. I'm asking.. which will be faster (mostly for gaming.. very little multimedia on this pc) 3gb in single channel.. or 4gb in dual channel (2gb usable) ?

Thanks..

 

You didn't mention which OS you're using, so I'll assume it's a 32bit version of Windows. If so, then the 3gb is all that would be addressed anyway. To take advantage of the dual channel, you should trade one of the 1gb sticks in for 2 x 512mb. Then install the RAM in alternated pairs; 1gb - 512mb - 1gb - 512mb so each channel has identical pairs and you'd take advantage of the dual channel then. But, if you have a 64bit OS, then just use all 4 sticks for 4gb total.

 

Thats one of the reasons I wasn't suggesting just having 4gb of ram

On the 1gb + 512.. X 2 I didn't think windows would see but 1.5 gb.. I thought all the dual channel stuff was handled by the mobo so if I had 2+2.. windows would only be seeing 2gb. ?

 

Dual channel is in the motherboard and BIOS, windows has nothing to do with it. If you put in 2x 1GB in one bank and 2x 512MB in another bank, Windows 32-bit will report 3GB in total. Your BIOS will report 1GB+1GB and 512MB+512MB in dual channel.

One bank is two slots, and they are split the way dlb described. Slots 1 and 3 are Bank Zero, and slots 2 and 4 are Bank One. You didn't say what brand computer you have, but if you bought the motherboard separate, the slots are color coded, like in the picture below. Blue slots = one bank, white slots = other bank.

 

It's one I built 2 years ago..

Windows xp home (32 bit) Intel C2D 6400 (have a 6850 I'm going to throw in here while I have it out as well)

Going from an intel 975i based mobo to a Nvidia 750i based..

Atleast I'll be able to run SLI without "special" drivers.


Thanks for the clairification.