ram questions

[nero]

can someone tell me if there is an advantage to getting 2 sticks of ram that equal the total, or just 1 big one. Same amount of ram, just spread over 2 sticks. does it matter? It will be in a socket A board if it matters.

 

[lev2323]

To my knowledge, it really doesnt make much of a difference. Most new boards run on dual channel ram, so on those you have to use two (equal) sticks.

 

[U-Toast]

having 2 sticks is for dual channel, but u need a mobo and cpu capable of it. Other than taht, its useless.

 

[Nubius]

yeah dual channel is the only reason for having a 1gb of ram sold in both a solid stick form and a kit which is 2x512. Those packages of RAM have been specifically tested together and the manufacturer insures you it'll run in dual channel at it's stock speeds. If you buy the exact piece of RAM but over seperate occasions, even though they are the same piece you bought...they could still NOT run in dual channel because they haven't been tested together...usually only happens if you buy a 512 of value ram then next month decide to get another, but still people have made it work.

Also if you have 3 slots dual channel can sometimes be run using 3 sticks......2x256 in the first two slots...obviously those are the a matching pair...and then in the 3rd slot...also assuming you get a matching manufacturer and general latencies would be able to put in a 512 stick and be able to run Dual channel. Dimm slot 1 & 2 are channel A, dimm 3 is channel B, So if you have to of the same sticks like 2x512 then you'd want the RAM in 1 & 3 in a case like that