RM Workstations (2 x 512MB or 1 x 1GB)

[rlculver]

Hi, I am just about to order my CC3 network and workstations.

Do I go for workstations which have 2 x 512MB or just a single 1 x 1GB stick of memory. The motherboard used by RM only supports 2 Memory Slots. I was womdering whether to keep one slot free for future memory upgrades (when Visita arrives to RM - I have software assurance) or just have 2 x 512MB sticks. RM say the two sticks help with network login performance. Is this right?

I know that dual channel memory does help, but does it help that much?

Any comments please

[john]

I'd go for the 1x 1gb stick, but TBH with memory so cheap get it at 2GB now rather than later.

[markcuk]

id go for 2gb minimum these days specially if you have to keep the systems longer than 5 years etc. plus get the highest spec you can afford you don't know how long you might have them!!!!!! 4-5 year replacement plans don't always get followed etc

mark

[FN-GM]

i second that mark

[monkey_boy]

As a general rule though, in answer to your original question, two sticks of n amount will perform better in the majority of motherboards than one stick. It's not just limited to network logon speeds but general quickness of the system will benefit from making use of any dual channel capabilities on your board.

[MyDejaVu]

but if he uses 2x512 then if he plans to use vista later, then he will be stuck with 1 gb maximum, I would recommend to get the machines with 2x1gb now because the prices of memory when getting older they dont decrease, but if he is tigh with budget at this moment, then one 1gb stick will do for the time being.

[FN-GM]

if you go for 2 X 512MB and come to upgrade to 2GB at dome point it will cost you more because you will have 2 1GB sticks to buy appose to buying one if you get 1GB sticks then you will only need 1, if you get me...

[Quackers]

Go with what Monkeyboy says, what he says in right, in a dual channel board which lots are, you get better performance with 2 sticks of ram, as you need 2 sticks to make use of the feature.

[Ric_]

Go with what Monkeyboy says, what he says in right, in a dual channel board which lots are, you get better performance with 2 sticks of ram, as you need 2 sticks to make use of the feature.

I think that what people are saying is that this is the cazse but it isn't necessarily significantly faster. By using the single stick of 1GB you will allow for a cheaper upgrade path in the future (one which won't pain you to throw out all those sticks of 512MB RAM!).

[ICT_GUY]

Depends on the processor.

A castrated Celeron is not going to benefit as much from faster memory access as much as a quad core Pentium. It will however benefit having lots of memory.

[enjay]

In very limited testing here, I didn't see a whole lot of benefit for the dual channel memory. I'm not disputing that it is technically faster, but opening Word seemed much the same speed either way, so personally I would go for 1x1GB as it leaves room for future expansion.