Forfeiting Dual DDR availability for more of RAM ?

[LeftEyeNine]

Right there it is.

As soon as I noticed that latest graphics programs need even more RAM to work with, along with resource hog games following one after another, I have purchased a 1 GB Kingston DDR 400.

I already had one stick of 512 MB Twinmos DDR 400 (its pair was down during the latest series of misfortune). That means, obviously, I'll not be able to make use of the mobo's Dual DDR tech.

I, myself, thought that I'd be better off with more RAMs instead of a doubled bandwidth. What do you think? Do you have any source to which one is better off ?

[Xiahou]

Right there it is.

As soon as I noticed that latest graphics programs need even more RAM to work with, along with resource hog games following one after another, I have purchased a 1 GB Kingston DDR 400.

I already had one stick of 512 MB Twinmos DDR 400 (its pair was down during the latest series of misfortune). That means, obviously, I'll not be able to make use of the mobo's Dual DDR tech.

I, myself, thought that I'd be better off with more RAMs instead of a doubled bandwidth. What do you think? Do you have any source to which one is better off ?

Without doing too much research, you're probably right. The difference between dual channel operation and non is significant. However, when performance will really take a nose-dive is when your RAM fills up and your computer is forced to begin swapping data to the hard drive.

So, if your apps are sucking up all available memory, it seems reasonable to assume that more, slower RAM would still be preferable overall to than having faster RAM, but not enough of it. Besides, if I'm following you correctly, you should still have the option of getting a second 1GB stick in the future and going dual channel that way.

[LeftEyeNine]

Yup, I think so, that filled up RAMs with doubled bandwith are meaningless compared to RAMs with room equipped with half of that bandwidth.

Yeah you got it right. Two of 1 GB sticks are just impossible to afford right now since I've made a lot of purchases to compensate all the misfortune I have suffered. 1.5 GB of RAM will do the trick for now.

[Husar]

I agree.

From what I remember reading ages ago, Dual Channel gives a maximum performance boost of 10% or so, the additional RAM should give a bigger boost when it's actually needed.

[Stuperman]

I've seen people run dual cahnnel with different sticks/sizes/manufacturers on each channel, so with both sticks insatalled you could still have the benefit of dual channel.

What mobo/CPU as if I remember correctly the ondie memory controler in A64 chips is 'more sensitive' in that respect.

[LeftEyeNine]

Well I have installed my Kingston 1 GB already, and this arrangement is recognized as single channel by my mobo. I don't care much though. I have quite a lot of room to work with since then