Buying new ram

[muz]

Ok well at the moment i have my rig and the ram in it mismatch , 256MB ddr266 micron and 256ddr 400 store value ram so as you can guess both mixed speeds and mixed brands has cause performance issues
so anyhow i have some money and the first thing i have decided to do is upgrade the ram .
Bearing in mind that i plan to upgrade by at least febuary next year to a new rig , although depending upon if i get a job or not and other financial situations that obviously may change a little but hopefully by febuary so i am not going to be going to 2 GB as that would be wasting my money right now and thorwing away money aint something i wanna do being so skint right now

Anyway i dont know if to just buy a 1GB module and take out the 266mhz 256 mb module i have in now and have 1.25 GB of mixed ram ,
Or would i get better performance from getting a 1GB kit 2X512 MB's sticks
I mean how much difference would that 256 on top of the 1GB make .
i wanna get it from either of my two usual stores
www.aria.co.uk
www.microdirect.co.uk

And my max price limit will be about £40

Also as a plus i basically use this machine for home use such as internet and email and word processing , the games i want to play i can play know i just want better performance when it comes to loading etc

Here is some options i have been looking at

1X 1GB stick - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...Layer+V-Data+PC3200+DDR+SDRAM?productId=20138
The cheapest 1Gb stick i can find

Or heres a 2 module KIT i have been looking at - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...C3200+Value+Select+(2x512MB)+?productId=10177
I am veering towards this a little at the moment cos it is a good brand and i dont think that 256MB on top of a GB will make a huge difference but if someone else could confirm that

Heres another 2 module kit i have been looking at as well - http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(20676)Kingston-1GB-Value-Ram-DDR-400MHz-Memory.aspx
this is slightly cheaper than the other 2 module kit but is the ram any better quality

Also i am going to find out if my motherboard can run dual channel and will edit or post back later
I know the max speed my motherboard runs the ram at is 333 PC2700
EDIT> No my motherboard does not support dual channel memory or at least it dosent say so in the manual . It is a Asus P4s 533-VM if anyone can tell me other wise

 

[Atomic Rooster]

You really can't go wrong with either the Corsair or Kingston memory. They both make quality products.

But you know, your really not going to see much performance difference, if any at all, between getting the 2x512MB sticks, or getting the single 1GB and running it with your existing 256MB PC3200 module.

Save a few bucks and get the single 1GB stick.

 

[muz]

Yeah , but then again there could be compatibility prblems trying to mix again , also i dunno how RMA at that shop works if stuff isnt compatible and the cheaper ram isnt guranteed whereas corsair is

 

[Atomic Rooster]

According to the site, the V-Data carries a 2 year manufacturer warranty. Both Kingston and Corsair carry lifetime warranties.

You could get the 2x512MB Kingston and then sell your two 256MB modules here on the forum.

 

[muz]

Yeah , maybe , i dunno . I know i have 40 to spend and i want the best i can get for that .

Also i have plans , whatever happens one of the 256 sticks is going in my server

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Well, if you don't mind spending a little more, get the Corsair memory. It's excellent quality, reliable, and their customer service is top notch. I've used their memory for years in a few of my computers.

 

[muz]

i have set 40 aside and the corsair ram falls under 40 so i guess unless anyone else has anything to say i shall get the corsair

 

[muz]

I know this is a double post but i want some more advice on this matter and decided it more apropriate to just post here than make a new thread .
so here goes , which ram is going to be better out of the following 3

The kingston 1 GB KIT (2X512) - http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(20676)Kingston-1GB-Value-Ram-DDR-400MHz-Memory.aspx
Corsair 1GB KIT (2X5120 - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...C3200+Value+Select+(2x512MB)+?productId=10177
Or the V data 1GB stick - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...Layer+V-Data+PC3200+DDR+SDRAM?productId=20138
The corsair value ram 1GB stick - http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(7739)Corsair-Value-Select-1Gb-DDR-PC3200-memory.aspx
Oh and dont base it off price cos i am not paying for this OK so i want whatever is best out of them three
Imagine you cant realy see the prices

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Hmm . . . If your motherboard supported dual channel, I'd say the 2x512MB Corsair. But since it doesn't, I'd go with the 1GB Corsair and run it with your current 256MB PC3200 module. Plus, if you ever want to go with 2GB in this machine, it would be easy enough to pick up another 1GB stick.