Memory Pairs

I just read a post on a web site by a credible computer guy who says
that even though RAM in a Pentium 4 does not have to be installed in
pairs, like EDO did, it is still better to install identical pairs. That
is, it's better to have 2 1GB memory modules (PC3200 in this case) than
1 2GB module. Is he correct?

The reason I ask is that a lot of my computers only have two DIMM slots,
such as my wife's notebook computer. It came with one 256MB module. When
I upgraded it, I added one 2GB SO-DIMM and left the original module in
place. Should I have gotten two 1GB modules instead?

mcp6453 wrote:

> I just read a post on a web site by a credible computer guy who says
> that even though RAM in a Pentium 4 does not have to be installed in
> pairs, like EDO did, it is still better to install identical pairs. That
> is, it's better to have 2 1GB memory modules (PC3200 in this case) than
> 1 2GB module. Is he correct?
>
> The reason I ask is that a lot of my computers only have two DIMM slots,
> such as my wife's notebook computer. It came with one 256MB module. When
> I upgraded it, I added one 2GB SO-DIMM and left the original module in
> place. Should I have gotten two 1GB modules instead?

The best recommendation is still what the manufacturer recommends
for the specific motherboard/computer. Look in the manual or visit
its website.

Memory pairs are usually associated with Dual Channel memory access.
Dual Channel offers a slight speed increase, but your PC's motherboard
must support this feature, usually a mother board that does support
dual channel will have 4 memory slots, two using one color and the other
two slots another color.

As for your wife's PC you should look up the manufacture's specifications
on that particular make and model to see if supports Dual Channel mode.

As for the current configuration you probably noticed a bigger performance
gain from the increase of 256MB to 2GB than what dual channel mode
operation could provide.

You also might consider removing that old 256MB memory stick as it
might (not saying it will) cause more problems than the having a extra
256MB is worth. 2GB of memory is more than enough for most
Windows XP systems.

For more information on Dual Channel see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel

JS

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ucJjuWmzIHA.2188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I just read a post on a web site by a credible computer guy who says that
>even though RAM in a Pentium 4 does not have to be installed in pairs, like
>EDO did, it is still better to install identical pairs. That is, it's
>better to have 2 1GB memory modules (PC3200 in this case) than 1 2GB
>module. Is he correct?
>
> The reason I ask is that a lot of my computers only have two DIMM slots,
> such as my wife's notebook computer. It came with one 256MB module. When I
> upgraded it, I added one 2GB SO-DIMM and left the original module in
> place. Should I have gotten two 1GB modules instead?