128 vs 256 = speed difference?

[Kitros]

Given that I have two "indentical" modules, one is 128mb and the other is 256mb, is there a performance difference? It seems to me like the 128mb should be faster... is this the case?

 

[NelsonMuntz]

How are a 128 Mb module and a 256 Mb module identical? I think I understand what you mean in that the speed ratings are the same and the cas ratings are the same. If they are identical except for the amount of memory, then they should not be a speed difference between them. It is not really like a hard drive where the information has to be found by a reading device and distributed out to the system. Here everything is readily available in the chips so essentially more space is available all the time but it doesn't take any longer to retrieve any of it. did that make any sense at all? Probably not. Sorry.

 

[DARRIN]

The ram would not be any faster but your system might because it won't have to access the hard drive as much.

 

[Kitros]

It just seems to me that the electrons have further to go to retrieve info on a larger module...

...but if there is no difference, then ok. Any articles?

 

[pyr]

by that logic an athlon is slower than an 286 or something cause the electrons have more transistors to go thru.

heh. nope doesnt work quite that way.

 

[MulLa]

2 sticks of 128 would be faster through "interleaving (did I get the spelling right)" / dual channel technology though.

 

[chuckieland]

<< by that logic an athlon is slower than an 286 or something cause the electrons have more transistors to go thru.

heh. nope doesnt work quite that way. >>



i was just think that too

 

[pulpp]

probably not much of a speed difference, but multitasking will be smoother.

 

[Kitros]

not faster but smoother?

I've never had a bumpy ride while multitasking...

Interleaving increases speed, eh?

 

[Mday]

<< not faster but smoother?

I've never had a bumpy ride while multitasking...

Interleaving increases speed, eh? >>



uh, then you were not multitasking enough =P

--

more RAM helps increase performance if you need it. if not, you are not likely to see much of a difference, though there will be one.

these new operating systems are RAM hungry, and so are applications. and since some do rely on the swap file (unless told not to), more RAM is good.

with respect to speed, assuming those modules are run at the same settings and designed the same, the 128 can be faster with less memory intensive programs. 256MB will have some built in latency due to the increase in size, this has already been shown in the past, but it's extremely neglible. with more memory intensive programs, the 256MB will beat the 128 due to less of a hit due to swap file usage.

--

the analogy is this, sure you can get a ferrari, but it's not going to get you there sooner if you drive at the speed limit of 55 or 60 MPH. but it sure looks nice ;-) and gives you bragging rights. and with a ferrari, when you CAN go faster, the ferrari will get you there sooner =)

of course a ferrari is not as fuel efficient, =P but then using 256 MB of RAM does require more power than 128 MB =P

 

[Kitros]

nice

 

[Kingofcomputer]

<< 2 sticks of 128 would be faster through &quot;interleaving (did I get the spelling right)&quot; / dual channel technology though. >>

What? Never heard about such thing for SDRAM, all modern SDRAM chip is capable of 4-way interleaving, you only need 1 stick of SDRAM DIMM to get 4-way interleaving, there is no need of 2 or 4.