Is 2GB memory better than 1GB?

[masterm]

Is there a performance increase when you use 2GB memory compared to 1GB? If all banks are filled does this make a difference? Or will the 2 GB of memory in fact slow down the PC. I have about 680MB free after a clean boot!

The system is used for gaming, graphic editing and software development (.NET etc). Just recently install a trial of Delphi 2005 and it was slow on system.


System Spec
ASUS P5AD2-E Deluxe
3.4gHz P4
1024MB memory DDR2533 (2X512NM)
ASUS 6800 256MB Graphics Card
120 GB Hard Drive * 2 - Raid 0
Win XP Pro SP2

 

[pmonett]

I would think that the answer is globally yes, it is better to have more RAM than less. Given that you have XP, I see no adverse consequence to doing so.
More RAM will invariably diminish the amount of disk swapping, allow you to work with bigger image files and, in some cases, speed up application loading times.

In one case I found a very large performance difference : Battlefield 2. The loading times of a map with 1GB and 2GB are quite different - with 2GB maps load almost twice as fast.

So yes, 2GB should be better. Of course, my PC is based on dual-channel NForce 4, so that might make a bigger difference than on a Pentium, but I'm sure you'll find that your system is more responsive anyway.

Pascal.

 

[electronicsfreak]

Adding more memory will not slow your pc down. The more ram you can add the better. Since the computer is used for gaming definitly better to have more.

 

[rvnguy]

On the ASUS mobo you have, there are 4 ram slots. I would try to match the current ram as to type and timings to insure best chance for performance. There have been some reports of slowing but these were with 3GB or more.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[ceh4702]

XP has a problem actually utilizing more than 2 gigs fo RAM in a useful manner. Often newer RAM works better. I use to think it was dangerous using those 1Gig sticks of RAM but it looks like more and more people are buying RAM in Matched pairs of 1Gig.

I think the newest AMD Processors are going to come out with a DDR2 Controller, so a year from now everyone may be looking to buy DDR2 RAM if the price of the processors come down by then.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[paparazi]

It is on the other hand, typical that on many newer motherboards, when all four slots are used, memory timings are often slower.
Nforce4 boards for instance, revert to 2T timings with all four slots occupied (faster 1T settings with upto 3 modules, typically))
So it's not all rose's
The best configuration still remains as 2 X 1Gig strips in dual channel mode (if you want to go to this amount)

It's also worth noting that very little will use over the first gig so for most time there will be no benefit at all.
That's not to say it won't get used at some point, just only rarely will it make any noticable difference, obviously you will be taking the slight performance hit all the time from the slower timings (if four slots are used)
Martin








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[cdogg]

Here's an old article I've saved a link to that illustrates some exceptions to the idea that "less modules are better".

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=1839&p=6

Of course, these tests were done on older motherboards, and most people who have more than 2 DIMMs often don't use identical modules (which that article says will cause an "enormous" loss of performance).

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[dglienna]

Hyper Threading requires dual sticks of the same speed/amount of RAM. Once I did that, my server really jumped to life.

-David
2006 Microsoft Valueable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[cdogg]

David,
Could that be "Dual-Channel" that you're referring to? Hyperthreading is an Intel term to make a CPU look like multiple CPU's to the Windows kernel.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[felixc]

He can be referring to HyperTransport, with the latest AMD processors that have two memoory channels. Although the Hypertransport does not have to do with the memory interface, neither does the Hyperthreading.

 

[dglienna]

But it works best if the same size/speed chip is in each channel. My server really sped up when I used two 512K chips rather than the old 768 that I had.

-David
2006 Microsoft Valueable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[youngnetworkadmin]

Go for it, wish i had that kind of money, but yeah i have a server with 2 gigs of ram it runs really well, i upgraded from 512 but yeah 2 gigs is definatly better than 1

 

[cdogg]

but yeah 2 gigs is definatly better than 1

Of course, this all depends on how you use your PC. Grandma likely will NOT notice any difference surfing the web or composing a Word document. Her grandson, Phil, might however playing a game like Everquest or doing some serious video editing with large files.

Also, going from 256 to 512, or 512 to 1GB often shows the most improvement. The higher you go, the less of an effect you'll notice.

Bottom Line: It's all subjective...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[jarcuri]

1gb of ram or 2gb of ram. I think just about everyone would say 2gb is better than 1gb but like a previous poster it depends on how you use your system. Check out this article.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/2gb-ram.html

If money is no object go with 2gb.