More Ram or faster ram?

I have recently bought a 2GB DDR2-5300 RAM module for my Acer aspire 5050 notebook. I used to have 1GB (512x2). I switched one of the 512bm RAM modules for the 2GB one. The problem is, my remaining 512mb RAM module is DDR2-4200... thus making my DDR2-5300 run much slower than it can. My question is, would I benefit with more RAM (512 + 2GB but running at 533 Mhz)
or simply 2GB alone running at the native 667 Mhz?
Oh and BTW, I am running Vista and using integrated graphics. I use photoshop a lot, if that could make a difference.

Thanks a million for you time!

 

You will find that while the RAM frequency is lower, the latency (the number of clock steps it takes for operations to happen) is also reduced.

I tested a Samsung R20 with 2.5GB RAM running at both 533MHz (PC4200) and 667MHz (PC5300). The PCMark05 result for 533MHz was 3509 and 3572 for 557MHz.

PCMark06 showed a bigger difference: 483 to 522, probably because the performance of the integrated GPU depends heavily on the memory bandwidth.

So, if you have integrated graphics and want the best performance then upgrade the slower module. Otherwise the difference won't be noticeable.

Running the 2GB module alone is likely to slow the memory performance since you will be in single channel. See this thread.

John

 

You will benefit from more Ram if you need that ram.
You will benefit from higher speed if you dont need over your limit of ram.

Typically its better to have more slower ram then to not have enough high speed ram because you wont really see the benefit.

 

Don't mix the PC4200 in there, it will become your bottleneck. Either run just the 2 GB alone, or add more PC5300 RAM.

 

You mean slower?

? 4200 is 533Mhz?

In situations like yours generally more is considered better than faster.

I would suggest saving up $20 and buying a 1GB SO-DIMM if you are in the States. Giving you 3GB, 2GB will run in dual channel and it all run 667Mhz. Those two would likely boost your bandwidth as much as say 15%.

 

But the 512 MB is just too little and not worth it to lower the other remaining 2 GB's speed for it.

 

That is a valid point I considered.

If Johns numbers are correct (no reason why they wouldn't, just seem odd). PC4200 2% slower. From Johns link 2GB+512MB should give a 3% boost so would be a net gain. I am assuming Johns #'s are from a dual channel test?

I will also say that if OP has Santa Rosa 800Mhz FSB John I believe was getting more like 4000 with PC5300. That is 12% that makes stew look correct.

John I am assuming those tests were on a Napa platform. This is all from memory so I could be so far of base.

 

thanks for all the advice! I tested my laptop with only the 2GB module and saw little to no difference to when I had the 2.5... Guess I'll just go with the 2.5 GB... I guess in my case more is better/same. I probably buy another 2Gb module along the way just be have the max out of my laptop...

 

SiSoft Sandra is free. It has benchmarking. One is a Memory Bandwidth. Bench with both to see exactly what is going on.