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    DDR2 Memory 2g vs 2.5g

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by tktim, May 4, 2010.

  1. tktim

    tktim Newbie

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    Which is better? (all have same speed)
    .
    2g + 1 empty slot
    or 1g +1g
    or 2g + .5g
    .
    DDR2 so-dimm memory (dual channel support) 2 slots total
     
    tktim, May 4, 2010
    #1
  2. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    It depends on the circumstances. Dual-channel doesn't really make much of a difference over single-channel except in certain circumstances. If you find that 2GB is inadequate, you're better off going with the extra memory to save you from hard drive paging. On the other hand, if you do lots of memory bandwidth intensive tasks, the dual channel configuration should be worth it.

    You will find that different CPUs respond differently to the extra bandwidth, so it also depends on your CPU, and of course it depends on the other specifics of the RAM itself (frequency and latency).
     
    lackofcheese, May 4, 2010
    #2
  3. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    You'll see more benefit from the extra 512MB of RAM than you will ever see from dual-channel. Worry about capacity first, and once you have enough capacity, then think about channels. Go with the 2.5GB configuration.

    That said, you're listing 1G+1G as a configuration... is there a reason you can't go with 2G+1G?
     
    Pitabred, May 4, 2010
    #3
  4. tktim

    tktim Newbie

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    I currently have 512MB in each of the 2 slots.
     
    tktim, May 4, 2010
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  5. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    In that case, definitely go for 2.5GB; as an added bonus, you'll be able to upgrade it to 4GB by buying another 2GB stick (assuming it's worth it).
     
    lackofcheese, May 4, 2010
    #5
  6. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    i would get 2GB... 2.5GB would help but depending on what work u do , 2GB is enough... just make sure ur laptop supports 2GB lol...
     
    sean473, May 4, 2010
    #6
  7. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Given that he already has 0.5+0.5, getting 2+0.5 is barely going to cost any more than 1+1.
     
    lackofcheese, May 4, 2010
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  8. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    A dual/flex setup can give 35% performance improvement for integrated Intel graphics. See here. So then the best bang-per-buck setup would be 2G+0.5G
     
    User Retired 2, May 4, 2010
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  9. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    Quasi-dual channel, though better than single channel, isn't exactly dual channel though. Still, who in the hell uses intel integrated graphics for anything demanding enough to need every bit of performance out of that gpu? I agree that 2GB + 512MB is the best option.
     
    Trottel, May 4, 2010
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  10. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Someone desperate, I guess.
     
    lackofcheese, May 4, 2010
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  11. tktim

    tktim Newbie

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    Thanks for everyone's input. 2g + 0.5g is my plan.
     
    tktim, May 5, 2010
    #11