Windows 7: Ram question

I am currently building a system for my neice, and I have a quick question about buying ram.



Her motherboard has 4 ram slots, would I be better off buying 3 2GB ram stick, or should I buy 2 2GB ram stick and 2 1GB ram stick?

Neither.

2x 2GB or 4x 2GB. Windows 7 64bit will run fine on 2x2GB. 32bit will run great.
All I'm using is 2x 2GB with Win 7 64bit and it has never bogged from lack of RAM..

With a dual channel RAM - 4 slots you can run 3 sticks but you would have better results with 2 or 2+2 sticks of RAM.

Click on My System Specs in lower left corner of this post. I'm running a high end CPU and video card but just 4GB of RAM.
I'm not bragging or say to buy what I have but just to show 4GB is sufficient that is all.

Mike

I would fill all slots. Just make sure the Dimms are all the same specs and make (except for size). But why 6GBs. I think 4GB would be ample.

LOL, Mike seems to say the same thing.

Also check with the manufacturer for their manual on ram placement on the board.
Normally you would only get to run it in dual channel mode with the 2 x 2gb sticks in the proper slots.
That's why I refer you to the rof the board to see how they explain how to populate the slots and what advantages, if any would be gained by running the 3rd stick.
Fabe
(edit) were all basically saying the same thing I agree with whs about using all slots, but then I know they sell a lot of 3 x 2gb kits, so I'm thinking you'd be better off with 2 x 2gb kits. As whs as suggested.