Advice Sought re 3GB Switch - 2x2 GB or 4x1

[GabethePilot]

Hello all.

Thinking about adding a HDD to my box with Windows 7 64 bit...mainly to try FSX along with the new Black Shark from DCS which apparently works better with 64 bit.

Now, if I install 4 GB so that the 64 bit system can get a little more RAM, and use the 3GB switch to maximise the RAM used by my current XP 32bit FSX drive, am I better off having 2x2GB sticks or 4x1GB.

ie. will using 2x 2 GB sticks of RAM in a 32 bit system, allow it to use the full 2GB in dual mode ?

Thnx in advance.

[NickN]

WindowsXP or Visa x32 will use the full 4GB of memory and in dual mode

Amount is one thing.. memory timing with respect to how the board plays with more than 2 sticks is another. Usually when a system has 4 sticks the motherboard slows the memory to keep 4 sticks stable, therefore its always best to run 2x2GB and only populate 2 slots with pre-i7 systems, and make sure the slots being populated are indeed the right channel for high speed, dual operation