Which is best - 4x512mb or 2x1024mb?

queen_d_2

Hi there,

I don't have a clue when it comes to computers. Please could someone tell me whether when ordering a computer from dell which of the above choices of memory should I opt for? (Price exactly the same for either.)

Am I being stupid thinking that both are the same?

Thanks in advance

vetfred

If it's using the same motherboard, then I would go for the 2 1GB sticks as this will mean that, should you want to upgrade in the future, you'll have 2 (at least) slots free.

queen_d_2

Thank you for your reply.

Does either option effect the performance of the machine or will they both provide the same?

GoofyGAT

4x512mb or 2x1024mb will make no difference performance-wise - but as vetfred explains, the latter is the more sensible option of the two. I'm surprised Dell are even offering the former. G

John_Gray

Dell seem to charge slightly more proportionally for the higher capacity memory cards... The reason is not obvious to me.

John

GoofyGAT

John_Gray wrote: »

Dell seem to charge slightly more proportionally for the higher capacity memory cards... The reason is not obvious to me.
John

But queen_d says, 'Price exactly the same for either.' G

P.S. queen_d you may be able to save a bit - look at this post

wakandem

Any new pc should have 1gb ram sticks. 512mb are out of date and you will have to replace them with 1gb sticks to upgrade. As people have said it is better to have a spare slot than having to replace a lower spec stick of ram.

Cricri

In my case, 2x1GB is actually much faster because it runs in dual-channel that way.

Little_John

512MB isnt out of date, it is just that windows vista is memory hungry and people now need to have as much memory as possible if they are running vista. as things stand there is no other software that requires more than 1GB even Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 that is released soon needs 1GB and recomends 1GB. so 2GB is plenty for the forseable future.

4x512mb will also run dual channel 2 lots of it. so performance wise it shouldnt make any difference.

How would I go? 2GB will be fine for the next few years, there should be no reason to need to upgrade and at the time when you need to upgrade memory prices whill have dropped by then. So if the price is significantly different between 2x1GB and 4x512Mb go with the cheaper option, very few normall home users ever upgrade a PC by a new CPU or memory they just buy a new one. but in the future you decide to add more memory skip the 512's and drop what ever you want in there that is good value at the time, the likleyhood is the board will only take current memory so as memory speeds increase the current stuff will be available for peanuts in the future.

And dell memory upgrade prices are stupidly high to start with if that is where your buying from.