Buying Memory

[JonnyNewo]

I'm buying some memory for a computer I'm building, but I'm curiosu about something. If I want a 1 Gb of memory would it be better to buy 2 sticks of 512Mb or a single 1 Gb stick? I play a lot of PC games by the way. So what would be the better choice?

I'm probably going to buy one of these two:

The two sticks of 512Mbs:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=20-146-883&DEPA=1

The single 1 Gb stick:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=20-146-969&DEPA=1

[Cowboybooter]

Welcome to XPC, JonnyNewo! :)

What motherboard do you have, and are you into overclocking?

:)

Bob

Edit: BTW Please only post the same question once, it keeps thing together! :)

[Shyguy]

Me, in that situation, choosing between those two, normally I'd go which ever is cheapest, but I have a feeling some will say go for the 2x512, as they have better timings than the larger 1GB stick making is just a hair faster, other than that, I don't think it really makes a huge difference, esepcially in gaming, a Fast CPU & Vid card, will make the biggest impact there. If you get the 1GB stick, you'll have one extra open slot in the future, is the way I see it, but not sure what others will say.:)

[JonnyNewo]

Here's the motherboard I'm getting. Looks pretty decent to me. As far as overclocking goes, I have no plans to overclock the memory, though if I have the time, probably the cpu. I guess I just wanna know what memory's going to give me the best results and I'm not sure if it would be best to the run the two dual channel 512Mbs or just a single 1Gb. Money isn't an issue here really, and neither is saving slots either.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-139-144&depa=1

[cbuddha42]

2x512 will most likely get you slightly better results. its also cheeper and with 4 slots I wouldn't worry that much about saving one, not that you seem to be anyway.

[JonnyNewo]

wait a sec, isn't the 1 Gb stick cheaper?

[JonnyNewo]

Bob, what are your thoughts on the matter? Which is preferable without reguards to price? Two 512Mbs or a single 1Gb stick? I've supplied a link above to the motherboard I'm buying as per your request.

[PresterJohn]

for the $20 difference, i would buy the 1gb stick.

running diual-channel configuration w/2 x 512 isn't enoug to offset the higher cost, imo. besides, i genreally max out the slots on my mobos.

getting the higher density single stick means less potential 'wastage' later on.