pair of 256 ram vs. one 512 stick

[bubba freaktree]

hi guys,

is there any benefit to using two 256 meg pc 2700 ram sticks compared to one 512mb stick?

i heard something about pairs of ram.

basically, i'm setting up a computer for gigasampler (a freakin' registration *nightmare*...i'm going on 7 hours with this crap..no joke. they suck for this).

in any event, i think 512mb will be more than enough ram for just running gigasampler. maybe i could splurge for a pair of 512 sticks. i've got a single 512 pc2100 in there right now. and seems to be doing fine.

any ideas on this "pairing" of ram sticks? my mobo has three slots, which makes that argument seem a little weird if you want to use 3 ram sticks, since it's an odd number.

[lucubration]

Yes, two sticks of ram can activate dual channel support which will result in a speed boost of 3 to 5%. But I prefer one 512 in the hopes that RAM will be cheaper one day....

[knowdoubt]

I don't think Bubbas board has dual channel support. Actually the fewer RAM chips, the better. This is pure physics. Each chip places an additional load on the memory address buss, requiring higher charge currents from the memory controller & possibly slowing rise & fall times of the voltage swings of the address lines, all of which can lead to instability or necessity to slow memory timings to avoid instability. I've heard of boards that couldn't run stable with 3 DDR's installed. 2 should be no problem though but one is best bet.

[This message has been edited by knowdoubt (edited 08-22-2003).]

[dawboxpro]

One stick all the way. Less chance of memory errors.

When going with 1024 two sticks of 512 is fine, but be sure they are a matched pair.

[bubba freaktree]

thanks guys!