4 x 1G Sticks or 2 x 2G Sticks RAM?

Im just about ot get some more parts for my beast and i was wondering: should i keep my 2 1Gb sticks of RAM thats in there now and buy 2 more 1Gb Sticks making 4Gbs (total of 4 sticks of 1Gb RAM)... or should i just i just give those away and buy 2 2Gb sticks of RAM??? Make Sence?? im not sure if either make a difference but any advice would rock!

The RAM thats in there ATM is 2G of G.SKILL 800Mhz RAM (not sure of the full specs)

By the way.. My System:

ASUS Striker II Formula Mobo

An Intell E8200 Core 2 Duo CPU @ 2.66ghz (soon to be a Intel Q9550 CORE 2 QUAD!!)

And a BFG 8800GTX 768Mb Video Card...

Pay the extra and get the 2x2. There are a number of good reasons for this. Many consumer mobos (even your S2) can have issues with filling all four slots. Really comes down to how well the baord is made as well as the type of RAM you buy and what conditions you use it in. Another reason is less heat to deal with. Four sticks always generate more heat than two and a comon problem with BSOD's is bad or overheated RAM. It also uses less voltage which is part of the reason that two sticks run cooler.

If you decide to go with four sticks all at once then please do the following:

1. Check to see what RAM other S2 users are having good luck with in 4x1 and stick with it.

2. If you cant find that info (although I'm sure a good google will bring it up for you), check the most recent cert table for your board to make sure you get something that works with the most recent BIOS installed on it.

3. If you install an OS after getting the 4x1 RAM, then take two of them out of slots 2 and 4 during the install. Then put them back in after you have the rig setup the way you want it. Again, google will give you many a reason for doing this. In short though, it will help to prevent oddities and problems during the OS install. Trust me.

This is just my opinion on the subject. It's based on tons of empirical evidence I've taken note of in my system builds (which are countless at this point). In no way should you consider it the only option. I have a box with 4x1 of RAM and it's just fine. It's also mixed RAM. It's mixed in speed, size and manufature. 3GB of this: 2x1GB 800 corsair and 2x512MB of 667 OCZ. I was able to get the 667 RAM to run at matched settings with the 800 (tiny OC ^_^) and the box doesnt mind. Just spare parts that I didnt want to go to waste. But far more often than not, I see that 4x1 has issues. Just my opinion on the matter. Good Luck.

that makes sence! i think ill go the 2x2... even though i have a coolermaster stacker which is mostly mesh i like cooler systems! plus i might want to get 4x2 in the future! haha! thanks for the info dude!!drazhar2000

Well by the time a gamer would even need 8GB of RAM in a system, you will be building/buying a new box anyway. There are many reasons for 8GB, but games are not one. 4GB will more than fill the need for the next 1 to 2 years. Once quad, six and eight core CPU's start getting real use in the game box market, as well as higher rez textures, then you will start to see a use for more RAM.

Anywho, I hope the info is of help. Again, good luck with you rig.