Memory question?

[socalcaz]

I have 2 sticks of this memory:

Corsair XMS 2 X 512mb

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145522

I would like to upgrade to 2 gb. I was just going to get more of the same memory, however I noticed these 2 x 1gb sticks for $6 more after rebate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145574

Is it ok to mix 2 x 512mb with 2 x 1gb? Can I mix 2 x 512mb and 1 x 1gb? Will 4 x 512mb give better performance than 2 x 512mb + 1 x 1gb? Thank you in advance.
(motherboard listed below)

[whofriggincares]

Re: Memory question?

If you're lookin for opinions, then just get 2X1GB and get rid of what you got now. With AMD, 4 sticks will only run at 2T timings and that really hurts performance. Also with the older 64s, the memory controller couldn't run 4 sticks at 200MHz which also hurt performance.
So either stick with 2X512MB until you get enough money for a 2X1GB set or deal with a pretty big performance hit. Also, don't buy 1 stick now and 1 stick later because they won't in dual channel mode unless they are a matching pair.

[socalcaz]

Re: Memory question?

The timing on the memory I have now is 2-2-2-5, whereas the 1 gb sticks have 2-3-3-6 timing. Will mixing these memory significantly disrupt the memory performance?

[socalcaz]

Re: Memory question?

If you're lookin for opinions, then just get 2X1GB and get rid of what you got now. With AMD, 4 sticks will only run at 2T timings and that really hurts performance. Also with the older 64s, the memory controller couldn't run 4 sticks at 200MHz which also hurt performance.
So either stick with 2X512MB until you get enough money for a 2X1GB set or deal with a pretty big performance hit. Also, don't buy 1 stick now and 1 stick later because they won't in dual channel mode unless they are a matching pair.

Thanks that helps.:)

[socalcaz]

Re: Memory question?

With AMD, 4 sticks will only run at 2T timings and that really hurts performance. Also with the older 64s, the memory controller couldn't run 4 sticks at 200MHz which also hurt performance.

So...would 2 x 1gb + 2 x 512mb be worse than just 2 x 1gb?

[whofriggincares]

Re: Memory question?

If you mix and match memory, you'll have a performance hit. Running any 4 types of memory, no matter if they are all the same exact chips, will cause you to run in 2T instead of 1T and that hurts performance a lot. You are better off saving up for some 2X1GB and just use what you have until you can get 2X1GB. Once you get the 2X1GB, sell your old stuff or use it in another computer, don't use it in this one.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Memory question?

The timing on the memory I have now is 2-2-2-5, whereas the 1 gb sticks have 2-3-3-6 timing. Will mixing these memory significantly disrupt the memory performance?

If you use an odd number of chips you will lose the ability to run in dual channel as well, which will give you a performance hit. Just sell the ram you have now and buy 2x1GB.

[socalcaz]

Re: Memory question?

Alright, thanks guys!