Memory: Amount vs. Speed ( 4 Views )

1. First, the situation I find myself in:
   
   I've recently come across some new hardware in the form of an MSI K7N2 Delta2-FSR (nForce2 Ultra 400 based) and a 1 gig dual channel kit of Corsair 3200C2PT memory. This new motherboard will replace my existing KT600 based board but I'll be retaining my Athlon XP3000 processor which is running on a 333mhz FSB.
   
   
   Now, my question:
   
   I have the option to run my new rig in dual channel mode /w a gig of memory or in single channel mode and use the existing 512 stick of Corsair 3200C2PT that I already have, for a total of a gig and a half. In gaming, do you guys think I'll see better performance from running in dual channel mode or will my slow FSB processor make any increase in memory speed a moot point, making the extra 512mb of memory in single channel mode a better choice?
   
   Thanks in advance for the wonderful advice I've come to depend on from this forum :)
   
   
   (caner, Botswana)


2. As I understand it the A-XP chips don't gain a whole lot from dual channel (compared to same-day P4s). So the 1.5gb might be better if you have a use for it.
   
   Will you be able to try it both ways?
   
   
   (selim, Lithuania)


3. Quote:

   Will you be able to try it both ways?

   Yes I will, and I can post results when I do. However, I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks would be the better setup between now and then (I'll get the parts at the begining of this weekend)
   
   
   (NUSRET, Nigeria)


4. I am running daul channel now, had some bios problems, but I was able to fix them, games are running great.
   
   
   (melis, Central African Republic)


5. Quote:

   Originally Posted by andocser I have the option to run my new rig in dual channel mode /w a gig of memory or in single channel mode and use the existing 512 stick of Corsair 3200C2PT that I already have, for a total of a gig and a half. In gaming, do you guys think I'll see better performance from running in dual channel mode or will my slow FSB processor make any increase in memory speed a moot point, making the extra 512mb of memory in single channel mode a better choice?

   In your case, it does help some when you add the extra 512MB of memory. You see, the memory clockspeed will have defaulted to 166MHz (DDR333/PC2700) with three double-sided modules anyway. That forced 166MHz memory clockspeed would bring the memory clockspeed in sync with your processor's actual FSB clockspeed (which is also 166MHz). And in single-channel mode, you'll lose very little - if anything - in terms of performance versus dual-channel. That's because the maximum theoretical bandwidth of single-channel PC2700 memory is equal to that of a 333MHz FSB Athlon XP processor.
   
   
   (kübra, Egypt)


6. I tend to agree with E4g1e and gopherscanswim, If this was a P4 or A64 bus that you were working with, it would be a "no brianer" to use dual channel mode for the huge increase in performance. With your chipset, cpu, and memory combination... you would notice more of an increase with the 1.5gb (like in Battlefield 2) than with 1gb in dual channel mode.
   
   Just my 2 cents..
   
   ~Aux
   
   
   (gökhan, Trinidad and Tobago)

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