Hi folks, in a vain attempt to squeeze another few fps out this ageing system for a couple of games, I'm wondering if pulling a 512mb stick out my other system will help?

The machines currently setup as 2x512mb dual channel (PC3200), would the change to 3x512mb single channel (all still PC3200) affect performance in a good or a bad way? More memory, but single channel.

Opinions? Cheers.

I think that thos two will work in dual, but the third will be running alone. Anyway, in toms hw was article about it. There were really small differenc between single and dual channel. But they were using ddr2.

The bios tells me its operating completely in single channel.

To be honest I can't notice an improvement in games, so I know I'm limited by my CPU & GPU, upgrade time now as they're both O/C'd as far as I can get them.

More RAM doesn't mean more FPS. In fact more RAM is a waste of time, if you already have enough for the programs you use. Any extra is a waste and won't speed up your pc.

Quote from DaveWS :

More RAM doesn't mean more FPS. In fact more RAM is a waste of time, if you already have enough for the programs you use. Any extra is a waste and won't speed up your pc.

Strangely Dave, I've just upgraded from 2X512MB to 2X1GB RAM in my iMac, and have seen a 10 FPS boost from prior to the upgrade.

Not always happens that way, but did for me.

Oh well.

To make it more confusing, I've upgraded from 512 -> 1 GB RAM, with no FPS boost, in my other computer, but then putting the 512 stick in that I had laying around (making it 1.5 GB, 1 slot 1 GB, other 512MB), actually made the FPS go down!

Quote from dawesdust_12 :

To make it more confusing, I've upgraded from 512 -> 1 GB RAM, with no FPS boost, in my other computer, but then putting the 512 stick in that I had laying around (making it 1.5 GB, 1 slot 1 GB, other 512MB), actually made the FPS go down!

amd socket 939 ?

Quote from Kniebeejs :

I think that thos two will work in dual, but the third will be running alone. Anyway, in toms hw was article about it. There were really small differenc between single and dual channel. But they were using ddr2.

Small difference? For the sake of playing around with my system I ran 2 GB in single channel and then 2 GB in dual channel. Speed difference was 23% better (Used a program for purely testing RAM). In real world experience, I did notice a noticeable jump in overall performance.

Quote from Shotglass :

amd socket 939 ?

Socket A.

Quote from Mischief007 :

Small difference? For the sake of playing around with my system I ran 2 GB in single channel and then 2 GB in dual channel. Speed difference was 23% better (Used a program for purely testing RAM). In real world experience, I did notice a noticeable jump in overall performance.

All that needs to be said imo.