Low Latency Vs Dual-Channel

Kenny

Kenny

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If I can only afford to buy memory with one of those attributes, which one should I go for???

Am interested to see which brings the greater performance increase, according to y`all, but I am looking for new memory.

:)


I have a hunch which one will price the bigger performance increase per pound spent. If the majority seem to agree, maybe we could start an article on "false benefits to the computer user" or "computer performance lies exposed" etc etc
 
If your motherboard and processor support dual channel, you can just get 2 sticks of low latency ram (same make and model of course) and run them in dual channel mode.

The dual channel packs are just to save money in most cases. 2x256, 2x512 etc etc.
 
I thought that dual-channel packs were to ensure the "headroom" in the RAM sticks wasnt lowered by them being from different batches/ manufacturers or whatever. So two normal sticks of RAM will work fine in dual-channel mode with no loss of potential performance?
 
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i think duel channel is a "mode" they can run in so you could have both, i dont think this costs more but the other parts need to support it

and i think low latency ram is just normal ram they tweak to run better for you and then charge extra for that, so you could have for example

two 256mb ram chips that are low latency and run in duel channel
two 256mb ram chips that are low latency and dont run in duel channel they should cost the same
two 256mb ram chips that arent low latency and run in duel channel
two 256mb ram chips that arent low latency and dont run in duel channel these should also cost the same

i think on the later chips you could raise the voltage and things to get the same speeds? i am probably wrong about all of it


EDIT: ah you both got replys in before me, by having both i meant duel channel and low latency. because i thought duel channel is a free thing so you either have them low latency or not. hope that makes sense
 
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Kenny said:
I thought that dual-channel packs were to ensure the "headroom" in the RAM sticks wasnt lowered by them being from different batches/ manufacturers or whatever. So two normal sticks of RAM will work fine in dual-channel mode with no loss of potential performance?
Click to expand...
I bought 2 sticks of ram from overclockers.co.uk at the same time and they run in dual channel mode fine. I wouldnt be expecting them to though if i bought them in like a few months apart.
 
Re: Low Latency Vs Dual-Channel ... = no contest ;-)

The entire market of "overclockers" memory has never really been based on solid ground. Many of the clock speed claims made by manufacturers are only guaranteed on very certain computer setups, and rarely do everyday home users actually reach the clock speeds and timings that their modules are rated for.

As there are no standards for these types of memories, the entire market is like the Wild West. Everyone is trying to build a name for themselves with these modules, as these modules are the source of a lot of press.

Unfortunately, if they push their modules too far and claim that the modules can clock higher than they actually can, the entire company loses face. Thus, a lot of companies are struggling to find that line to balance on.

For the most part, I have grown to respect Corsair's XMS line of memory, as it generally is capable of what it claims it can do. The XMS2700 ELL memory can indeed run DDR-333 memory at ultra-fast 2-2-2-5 timings (6ns Winbond memory chips), and is my favourite memory out of the bunch.

The more expensive Corsair XMS3500 modules can reach the highest clock speeds, but since the timings have to be toned down so much in order to do so, there is not much benefit for these modules over Corsair's XMS2700 and 2700 ELL modules. Corsair claims 433 MHz operation at CAS-2 frequencies, which unfortunately, were not able to achieve in real-world testing.

Now … stick Corsair's XMS line of memory in a “dual-in-line-memory motherboard” and you have the best of both worlds. Due to the nForce2's unique architecture, the best performance actually happens when you run the memory at 333 MHz with 2-2-2-5 timings, and even when you have your memory at 444 MHz, you'll get lesser performance compared to a synchronous 333 MHz FSB / memory setup. ;)

:D
 
Cant afford that Mucks, I cant see the advantage of spending £100 odd quid on a 512 stick of RAM when what I have cost £52. If either low-latency or dual-channel appeared to have a decent performance advantage over what I buy, I may make the effort to save up a bit more, but 3 figures for 512MB is excessive.
 
Get a gig of GeIL Value PC3200 Dual Channel kit. Comes in a nice blue heatspreader, oscilloscope matched pair so dual channel perfect.

Cas 2.5 (possibly push to 2 (I can run my CAS3 OCZ at CAS2)) and its good and its cheap.

Reccomend it.
 
Yea, I saw them at overclockers.co.uk But... I`ve seen something better thats out of stock at the place in question. If its the same price or cheaper when it comes back in, It`ll be worthy of a post in the bargain forum. :) Heh...
 
I have the Corsair XMS Extreme (2-2-2-5) and it is a giant leap compared to the slower ones, I had the exact same machine with only the difference in RAM in the office and both machines had almost similar software installed. The home desktop was much faster in almost everything I did. Now I do not use a desktop in the office but only the laptop in a docking station.

Corsair really makes fine memory modules.
 
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