Need good memory!

[jmoore2001]

I'm currently running (1) 512mb Kingston pc3200 CAS-3 and I'm having all sorts of failed memory tests and such.

I was looking on Newegg and saw some good prices and wondered what you guys thought was the best? I don't want to spend more than $150, which means I could get ONE high end stick of 512mb, TWO sticks of high end 256mb (for dual channel), or TWO sticks of lower end 512mb.

What I'm wondering is, which will make for a better performance (overclocking and gaming)?

Having:

A. One stick of 512mb at very high end quality ($150 worth)
B. Two sticks of 256mb of very high end quality
C. Two sticks of 512mb (1 GB) of lower end quality

I'm running Windows XP
Asus A7N8X Deluxe
athlon xp 2500+ @ 3200 (when memory doesn't fail!)
using Thermalright SLK-900U w/ Vantec Tornado
GF4 Ti4600 4x
couple of SATA HDD's, dvd-rom, cd-rw, etc.

[RamonGTP]

I'd get a single stick of 512... I'm partial to Corsair XMS, but there are plenty of ther good ones out there.

You don't want 1gb of cheap memory, or you may run into the same problems you've got now

2x256 isn't a good idea becaue then you'll only have one more slot left for a maximum of 768MB, and the dual channel is only about 5% performance increase. With the single 512 you can always go dual when you're ready with another good quality 512. This would put you at a gig with still one DIMM slot left.

[jmoore2001]

so the dual channel wouldn't be AS much as an increase as setting up a higher quality memory in one channel?

[RamonGTP]

That really depends... If they're both running at the same speed and timings, then running dual channel will be faster, but not by much. My point was that going with 2x256MB will severly limit your upgradability for more ram in the future since you're already using two slots, and the third needs to be filled with the same for a maximum of 768MB. You won't loose out on much performance if you go with a single 512. And whatever performance you are missing out on, you'll get back and then some when you get the chance to get a second 512, becuase then you'll not only be running in dual, but have a full gig as well.