[2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

[Bio_Terra]

Hi im looking to buy some more RAM (i live in the UK), here are my specs:
Compaq Presario SR1339UK
Intel pentium 4 processor 2.93ghz
512 RAM [2x256MB slots 1 and 3] DDR PC3200 184-pin
Ati Radeon X300SE 128MB
260 GB hard drive
dvd writer and dvd-rom drives

How much difference would i notice between 1.5GB and 2.5GB, is it worth gettin 2GB over 1GB?

If i get 1GB of RAM is it better to get [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM? and what slot would i put it in? (2 or 4)

how can i find out what latency my current RAM has and what difference will it make if they are different?

Thx for any help.

[QuikSilv3r47]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

All I can tell ya, is you should get 2x512mb ones and run in dual channel. The performance will be much better.

[Bio_Terra]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

do i have to buy a special dual channel kit to run in dual channel or will any 2x512 kit do?

[sackynut]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

usually it says dual channel kit, but most new kits of 2x512 will be dual channel

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

Just get another 1gb (2x512mb) pc3200 kit and put them in the open slots.

[QuikSilv3r47]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

Just get another 1gb (2x512mb) pc3200 kit and put them in the open slots.

Always a good idea

[abtomat74]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

To run dual channel, all you need is two identical modules.

They don't have to be sold in a kit, they just need to be identical in specs. You can even mismatch brands and get dual channel...

The ones sold in kits simply claim that of all the thousands of modules they had, they paired the best 2 matching ones...

However, mismatching should only be done if you already have 1 module, and don't want to throw it away.

If buying 2 modules anyway, it is considered best to get a matching kit just to be safe...but it is NOT required.

[Bio_Terra]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

thx, can anyone answer my other questions?

How much difference would i notice between 1.5GB and 2.5GB, is it worth gettin 2GB over 1GB?

how can i find out what latency my current RAM has and what difference will it make if they are different?

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

1. You won't notice any difference, so go with 1.5gb.

2. Download and run cpu-z and it will tell you the latency.

[Bio_Terra]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

according to cpu-z the latency is 3.0, is higher better or lower? and does it matter if i have ram with different latencies?

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: [2x512mb] or 1GB of RAM?

Just get ram with the cas latency of 3, and it should work fine.