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    Ram Question for notebook

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Sir Travis D, Mar 8, 2008.

  1. Sir Travis D

    Sir Travis D Notebook Deity

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    I ordered an alienware area-51 m9750. It will come with 1gb of ram (2x512mb).
    If I use one 2gb stick of ram and no 2nd stick, will that be better than 2 1gb's?
     
    Sir Travis D, Mar 8, 2008
    #1
  2. Sir Travis D

    Sir Travis D Notebook Deity

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    also will it be good if I use 1x2gb stick and 1x512mb? will that work? so I would buy 1x2gb and use it with the 512mb
     
    Sir Travis D, Mar 8, 2008
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  3. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    2x1gb ram will run on dual channel since its in both slots which is better

    but yes its possible to only run it with a single stick of 2gb ram. This might be a good idea if you plan to add another 2gb later, which you probably will.
     
    flipfire, Mar 8, 2008
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  4. Sir Travis D

    Sir Travis D Notebook Deity

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    would it be good to get 2gb and a 1gb stick? that's 3gb, and will that preform significantly worse than 2 of the same?
     
    Sir Travis D, Mar 8, 2008
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  5. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    yes 3gb would be a good option aswell.

    The perfect option would be 2x2gb sticks. This is the max you can get and will run on dual channel. RAM isnt that expensive, i suggest going for 4gb even IF 32bit can only read a max of 3gb. 64bit is bound to take over sooner or later

    but if you really cant afford 2x2gb then 2gb + 1gb will do
     
    flipfire, Mar 8, 2008
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  6. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    That is Intel? Then it is better to run 1X2GB and 1X512MB you will have 2.5GB RAM and the 1st 1GB will be "Dual Channel" 1X2GB will be "Single Channel". The 1X2GB and 1X1GB will run 2GB in "Dual Channel" so will have the same amount in "Dual Channel" as 2X1GB plus 1 extra GB of RAM in "Single Channel" so I say overall better. Look at this link in the Hardware stickys for more info on the "Dual Channel" subject.
     
    powerpack, Mar 8, 2008
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  7. kobe_24

    kobe_24 Notebook Deity

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    I would definitely opt for the 2x2gb sticks. I put 4gb 4x1gb in my system, and it showed up as 3.5gb, dual channel (winxp).
     
    kobe_24, Mar 8, 2008
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  8. jcovelli

    jcovelli Notebook Deity

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    ha, all of you better read this link i have

    either use an even 2 or 4... anything in between will not be as efficient (windows, all versions, is not to smart with handling ram)

    and the difference between 1x2gig and 2x1gig will not be noticable.. these days dual channel isn't a big deal since ram is ddr(2) to begin with.

    http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
     
    jcovelli, Mar 8, 2008
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  9. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    Please try and refrain from posting links in a forum that deals with current technology that are over 3 years old. It is not helpful or constructive and only spreads your confusion to others. I don't care if it is from Microsoft, it is outdated.
     
    powerpack, Mar 8, 2008
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  10. Sir Travis D

    Sir Travis D Notebook Deity

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    ok im getting 2x1gb's
    thanks...
     
    Sir Travis D, Mar 8, 2008
    #10