[SyphonPayne]

I give up. Just forget it. Everyone else knows what I am talking about.

After checking stinky's build again, I think yojo's mobo is better with 4 ram slots, at least in terms of upgradeability.

This post has been edited by SyphonPayne on Wednesday, Mar 14 2012, 06:28

[Stinky12]

We all know what you're talking about, but it all depends on when it's necessary and when it's not.
In the real world, a user will not notice any difference between dual channel and single channel.
The only way to tell is by running benchmarks on 2 machines with identical hardware in a side by side comparison.


This post has been edited by Stinky12 on Wednesday, Mar 14 2012, 13:45

[SyphonPayne]

But as I said before going single channel would only save $10 over the next 3 years so why not go dual?

[Stinky12]

It's simple, I see ram capacity is more important than dual channel.
e.g.
A board with 2 ram slots supports a max of 8GB
Person A gets a single 4GB stick
Person B gets a pair of 2GB sticks
Both systems has a total of 4GB

A few months later on, both decided to upgrade to full 8GB.
Person A grabs another 4GB, total 8GB.
Person B now has some problems. In order for him to get 8GB, he has to ditch his old rams and get a pair of 4GB (2x4GB) just to get to
the full 8GB. If he wants to save one of his 2GB and grab a single 4GB stick, he can only max out at 6GB.
Not only did he waste money on his old rams, he also has to pay extra (by buying the 4GB) even though he can't get the full 8GB, like he wanted to.

Person A saves money by thinking ahead.
Person B only think of what's he wants currently, hasn't think in the long run.
The system configurations here only has a single stick of ram is for the the ability to upgrade down the road.
And once the ram is upgraded it will become dual channel.

[leik oh em jeez!]

I doubt his sister will ever use all of the 4Gb, much less 8Gb.

Having her brother build her a computer, she doesn't come across as the type of person that cares about maxing out the memory on a motherboard, or ever upgrading unless it's something that's really needed.

The benefits of dual channel are ALWAYS there. The only time more than 4Gb EVER comes in handy is when she's using more than 4Gb, which I'd wager will be never.

[SyphonPayne]

QUOTE (Stinky12 @ Wednesday, Mar 14 2012, 13:55)

It's simple, I see ram capacity is more important than dual channel. e.g. A board with 2 ram slots supports a max of 8GB Person A gets a single 4GB stick Person B gets a pair of 2GB sticks Both systems has a total of 4GB A few months later on, both decided to upgrade to full 8GB. Person A grabs another 4GB, total 8GB. Person B now has some problems. In order for him to get 8GB, he has to ditch his old rams and get a pair of 4GB (2x4GB) just to get to the full 8GB. If he wants to save one of his 2GB and grab a single 4GB stick, he can only max out at 6GB. Not only did he waste money on his old rams, he also has to pay extra (by buying the 4GB) even though he can't get the full 8GB, like he wanted to. Person A saves money by thinking ahead. Person B only think of what's he wants currently, hasn't think in the long run. The system configurations here only has a single stick of ram is for the the ability to upgrade down the road. And once the ram is upgraded it will become dual channel.

The solution is simple. Don't get a board with only 2 slots. Also, as I said before, it will only save $10 over the course of 3 years (when memory prices inevitably drop.) I highly doubt that his sis will be upgrading before 3 years, if she ever does. Even if she upgrades the next day, it's still only $20 more. Also, if she gets a board with 4 slots, she can get an 8GB set and have 12GB.

This post has been edited by SyphonPayne on Wednesday, Mar 14 2012, 23:06

[Stinky12]

DRAM maker Elpida has filed for bankruptcy. Analysis says dram price are expected to go up.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120302-707333.html
I went with that board cause I tried to get a whole system under the $500 budget excluding shipping.
If OP can go over, then here I pick this board.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813121506

[finn4life]

Buy your ram right now then and save some money.

[Slamman]

PC2 buyers, I believe there are 4 different speed types, mine came with PC2 4200, but I was tending to think that was the lowest, but it's up one from the lowliest speed in DDR2 spec! I found it hard to get a handle on all the various numbers since you can skip from one package of RAM to the next and see them labeled differently, so do a bit of homework, you won't get burned. The first time I set up my DDR2 system, I used TOO LOW a Ram for the board and it refused to run, but the RAM was good, just not the right speed required

Syphon, all my newer boards only had two Ram slots, but they were supporting 8GB, I'm fine with that though, With my only DDR3 board, again 2 slots, but running 4GB as 2 sticks each, but HELL, I started with a set of 1GB per slot, I got a damn good deal on both I think, but I can't use the 2GB so they are for sale! haha

This post has been edited by Slamman on Thursday, Mar 15 2012, 03:54

[leik oh em jeez!]

Jesus Christ, since when do we need a market analysis professional or more than 4Gb to build a cheap computer for a family member? Go for 2x2Gb and leave it at that. The one kit is only two or three dollars more. Since your sister will never need more than 4Gb, the dual slot board should be fine. If your sister's PC ever starts to seem slow, I can promise you an extra stick or two of RAM isn't going to fix it. Maybe a defrag and a good software cleaning.

Above all else, know your application for a build. Don't pay extra for upgradability that will never be used.

[SyphonPayne]

Did not know that about DRAM prices, however I still think it's worth it to go 2x2GB. Liek oh em jeez is right though, doubtful that adding more RAM will even be worth it over the years, but even if it is necessary, still not a whole lot more money for dual channel vs single.

This is getting sort of repetitive, think OP forgot about this thread anyway.

[Stinky12]

OP ditch his thread and when to buy a Dell instead.
Speaking of Dell, their system aren't cheap especially if you want discrete graphics and they use the
extreme low-end models: HD5450.
HP right now lets buyers customize it with the new AMD 7000 series graphic cards.
HD7450, HD7570, and HD7670.

[Wolf68k]

QUOTE (Stinky12 @ Thursday, Mar 15 2012, 11:44)

OP ditch his thread and when to buy a Dell instead.

Locked for this