Which is better? 2 sticks 4 sticks?

[fraya713]

So i'm looking to by some better ram, and i have a lot of options. But i wanted to know which is better, 2 sticks for a total of 4 gig (3.25 on xp) or 4 sticks

basically

2x 2 gig of ram
or

4x 1gig of ram

thanks for your help guys!

also if u could explain to me your reasoning, that would be helpful :)

[Duxx]

2x2 tends to be easier to overclock and many suggest it over 4x1. However I have 4x1gb Tracers and seem to be running them fine. 2x2 also allows for you to upgrade to 8 if need be ever.

[sneekypeet]

IDK I was always told that 2X2GB was the way to go, but then I got a good deal on another 2GB kit. Now I am running 4GB in 4 stix.

Clocked to 1080MHz, not a studder. 3.25GB in windows(lol)

<<<<check specs

[ntdouglas]

If your starting from fresh, go 2x2 4gig.

[hat]

4x1 or 2x2 it doesn't matter that much anymore. I would still reccomend 2x2 though because if you ever have a problem, espically with the memory, you will save time troubleshooting...

[fitseries3]

oooo!!! buy my crucial ballistix tracers 1066mhz 4x1gig's!

[DaMulta]

You don't have them listed:)

[fitseries3]

You don't have them listed:)

i know.... because im using them. if i get the 4gigers on the way.... then i'll push them harder.

[mikey8684]

<<<<=== Check my specs.

I use 4x1GB ... 2x 2 pair so they both run in dual channel. TBH unless the memory timings are different theres no other difference I guess ... someone correct me if I'm wrong ?!?!

:D

[FreedomEclipse]

having 4x ram (full ram load) usually stresses out the CPU's memcontroller when overclocking. making the overclock unstable

[intel igent]

doesnt four stix put you at 2t? or is that only with the older sys?

i was always told 2 stix is better than four :confused:

[kenkickr]

I would go with 2Gb x 2 sets over 1Gb x4 just because the sets are so cheap. I couldn't see which OS you are running but just so you know a 32 bit OS will not see all 4Gb. It maxes out at 3.25Gb and goes down from there due to all of your other peripherals.

[fraya713]

thanks guys! i guess 2x is the way to go, seems to be more pros with that than cons anyway. now... i was going to get 4x 1 gig ballistix tracers, but i don't think ballistix makes 2 gig sticks, at least i didn't see any on newegg... not to mention, i'm guessing i will eventually have to upgrade, and i am all about saving money in the long run. So..

what ram is good, thats 2x 2 gig.. and i'm overclocking..

[sneekypeet]

they arent tracers but they are 80MHz....http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=56289

[fraya713]

are these any better? - OCZ Reapers

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

[fitseries3]

crucial ballistix 2x2gig's are the best so far

[jpierce55]

I read the new single sided 2x1gb batches of Ballistix are crap, I don't know about the 2x2gb. I ordered a set of 2x1gb from Newegg guess I will find out, the first set I got are the old dbl sided.

Still seems like if the 2x1 is bad the 2x2 has a chance at it to.

[lemonadesoda]

Unbuffered memory suffers from "noise" and "latency" on the memory bus. More sticks = more variation in chip tolerances = more trouble.

Always have FEWER sticks, not MORE. EXCEPT when you are using FB-DIMMs (Fully buffered) where extra sticks does not make a problem... but the reverse... the memory controllers are able to run QUAD, HEXA and OCTO channel: meaning the more sticks the more bandwidth.


P.S. i have had problems with 4x DDR in mainboards... some sticks worked... some didnt. Avoid the issue. Get 2 sticks only.

[cincybengal]

If you want to o'clock, don't get 4 sticks. I finally gave up trying to do it as my 800mhz sticks won't go higher than 667mhz stable. Also, 2 sticks are obviously more expandable in the future.

[MiST91]

having a Pair of 2x2GB or 2x pair 4x1GB really doesn't make a noticable differance to performance, however if buying new, i would go 2x2GB because then you could always upgrade to 8GB in the future (think your computer will have VERY differant specs when you actually NEED 8GB RAM to do everyday tasks)

[Darknova]

4x1Gb DDR2 800 at 1100Mhz no issues here.

not entirely sure why people complain, seems like a fantasy to me.

Back when I had DDR, I noticed that 2Gb in 4 sticks was harder to overclock than 2Gb in 2 sticks, but that was back then. DDR2 doesn't seem to suffer from the same ill-effects that DDR does, not from my experience any way.

[kylew]

4x1Gb DDR2 800 at 1100Mhz no issues here.

not entirely sure why people complain, seems like a fantasy to me.

Back when I had DDR, I noticed that 2Gb in 4 sticks was harder to overclock than 2Gb in 2 sticks, but that was back then. DDR2 doesn't seem to suffer from the same ill-effects that DDR does, not from my experience any way.

+1 I have 4 x 1GB Sticks of DDR2 800Mhz which overclocks the same as 2 sticks. Gets my Q6600 to 3.96Ghz easy, though 2 sticks of 2GB will be better as you'll have more scope for upgrades in future. I'm going to go 4 x 2GB soon :D.