2gigs dual channel or 3gigs single channel

[Mala]

I have 4gigs of OCZ DDR2800 ram, but 1 stick is dead. I have to RMA it, while i wait for the replacement, should i run my pc with 3gigs of ram in single channel mode or 2 gigs in dual channel? Will it make a big difference either way? I know single channel will give me halved bandwidth but will it be noticeable to the point where i should remove 1 stick?

[Epical]

2GB @ dual.

[Zigma]

Please send me your extra ram because if you're on XP using 4gb of ram, it's going to waste because it caps at 2.

[Mala]

Please send me your extra ram because if you're on XP using 4gb of ram, it's going to waste because it caps at 2.

64bit XP, 32bit Vista(ready for DX10 games).

[Shuemue]

Try running 3gb. I'm running 1gb, 2x 256 and 1x 512, my board is still reporting dual channel, so I presume it's running the paired 256s at dual and the 512 at single. In my case it's a definite improvement over just 2x 256. Might be different for your board though.

[Mala]

Try running 3gb. I'm running 1gb, 2x 256 and 1x 512, my board is still reporting dual channel, so I presume it's running the paired 256s at dual and the 512 at single. In my case it's a definite improvement over just 2x 256. Might be different for your board though.

That was the first thing i did, it definitely ran it all at single channel. I'll just keep 2 gigs on there for now and wait on my replacement stick, i've been using vista more often lately anyways <__<.

[Skyylya]

Please send me your extra ram because if you're on XP using 4gb of ram, it's going to waste because it caps at 2.

It actually caps at 3, or like a few KB's under 3 anyway.

You're better off with 2 @ dual channel though than 3 at single channel to answer the OP again.