installing ram in matching pairs

i just purchased an Acer Aspire AS9300-5349 Laptop Computer and i am upgrading the ram because it only came with 1gb (512x2). i've looked around and noticed that you can either buy in pairs or 1 stick at time. For about the same price i can get 2 1gb sticks or 1 2gb stick. if i purchased the 1 2gb stick i'd take out 1 of the original 512 sticks and replace it with the 2gb stick. my question is if i were to buy the 1 2gb stick and install it with 1 of the original 512 sticks would if be faster than buying the 2 1gb sticks and installing them? sorry for the long post and thanks in advance

 

2x1GB will be faster unless the extra 512MB is needed and will force the system to go to virtual memory, but if the extra 512MB is not enough and system has to go to virtual memory then you loose that advantage. 2GB and 1GB might be more tempting, but 2GB and 512MB, no I would take the advantage of the faster but smaller RAM configuration.

2X1GB has 2GB RAM running on 128 bit bus, 1X2GB + 1X512MB w/effectively have 1GB running on a 128 bit bus and the remaining 1.5GB will work on 64 bit bus. This is over simplified but if it was randomly taken it would have 1.5GB at 64 bit.

I know I am going to here about this but just my opinion.

 

I'm looking into RAM also, should I go for dual channel 2x 1 GB or 1x 2GB + 1x 1GB?

 

Many people on this site swear buy 3GB being better than 2GB w/Vista others say 2GB is fine. Are you going to be using memory intensive apps? 2X1GB It has been said (Jonh Ratsey) runs 10% faster but if the 2GB config needs to hit VM more than the 3GB does you lose the benifit. So what are you going to be doing?

 

I mainly will be using my laptop for school, but I will be doing my fair share of gaming, too.

 

I know it depends on your GPU and how it is set up but as a rule I was not talking about gaming so I would lean towards 2GB, but a case can be made either way.

 

Well, I have a 8600M GT. Could you try to explain in "noob terms" why 2GB would be better than 3GB?

 

Because unless the 2GB creates more hit on your virtual memory than 3GB, 2GB will run faster as stated b/4 about 10%. You have a dedicated GPU the memory you have on board is what is going to give you performance when it has to hit the system RAM performance takes a hit. So anyway 2GB runs faster but 3GB will work. People can come up with scenarios that will favor either. So make your choice and enjoy.

 

Well, thank you very much for the information. I appreciate it. I mise well just save the $100 and get another 2x Crucial 1GB sticks for ~50