Which is better: 2x512MB or 1x1GB

I have an old Centrino laptop which uses DDR 333 PC2700 Ram.

Just want to ask, which is a better confguration, in terms of speed.

Using 2x512MB sticks of Ram or just using 1 piece of 1GB Ram module?

Thanks.

 

1 x 1GB Ram module. But it's not like it even is equal to 1 fps increase.

 

1 x 1Gb will be faster if the memory density is twice that of your 512mb cards

By this I mean:
Say your 512mb card has 8 memory chips on it
And the 1Gb card you want to replace it has 16 memory chips. It would have the same memory density, so it wouldnt be perse faster.
If you found a 1Gb card with 8 memory chips, than the memory density will be twice as much. This will yield higher memory mb/sec

K-TRON

 

I would vote for 2 x 512MB which is more likely to provide full dual channel memory access. This is more likely to affect performance than the actual timings of the modules. However, the older chipsets might will need two identical modules to run in dual channel. Newer chipsets just need something similar.

John

 

I'm guessing you have both of them. Test it, run some benchmarks and you will know.

It's likely you won't notice any difference.

 

For the memory performance use SiSoftware Sandra. For overall performance use PCMark05.

If the graphics uses system memory then this is where any performance difference is most likely to be noticeable, so you could also run 3DMark05 or, if your hardware doesn't support that version, 3DMark03.

John

 

2 x 512MB sticks would be the decisive winner due to dual channel vs single channel. Dual vs single might not make a big difference nowadays, but this is DDR we are talking about, where there was a very clear performance advantage to dual channel.

I can't say I've ever heard of that. I can't find any info on this, do you have a link or something?

 

If it's the 855PM or 855GM chipset, then I don't think it will support dual-channel.

 

Wow, I thought any chipset that didn't have dual channel DDR would be prehistoric. Make sure the 1GB stick is low density.

 

I'd say both of them are pretty similar. You wont probably notice the difference.

 

I do not have a link as of now, I am sure I could find one.
Back years ago in the PC100 days people would pay an arm and a leg more for higher density memory chips. Sometimes motherboards were picky and rejected them, but when they did work, they did yield much higher memory benchmarks

I remember talking to ole powerpack on this about a year ago. He too remembered, but we were not so sure it makes a ton of difference these days.

K-TRON

 

The 2x512MB will be faster due to Dual Channel mode. There are some older chipsets that didn't support DC mode though.

 

It's best that the OP finds out which chipset he owns...

Then you can match it to the Intel Datasheet.

http://www.intel.com/products/laptop/chipsets/index.htm?iid=chipsets_body+nb_all

 

Sorry to interrupt and change the subject a bit but I am interested in the same 1GB PC2700 memory modules. I was wondering which brand to get to upgrade my Thinkpad.

Is there one to recommend over others? I looked on ebay and imho, there is not a lot of choice. Note, I'm in Canada and most of the vendors don't list to ship there.

 

Go get another stick of 1gb, it's pretty cheap nowadays...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1GB-PC2700-33...in_0?hash=item2a00cf99f2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

Definitely dual-channel 2x512mb. Without dual-channel though, I'd imagine performance would be very close.

 

If you go for the single 1GB stick, make sure your computer can accept it. Some really old laptops/desktops could only accept 512MB per DIMM slot. 1GB would not be compatible.

 

Agreed with majority of people here. If your chipset supports dual channel then 2x 512MB would be more beneficial than a single 1GB module.

 

1x1GB as it would be easier to upgrade to 2GB in the future.