Which IS Better? RAM Q's

alupis · 08-23-2006, 12:42 AM

hi! i have a question about ram card placement on my motherboard.
i have:
Dell Demensions 4600i 3.0Ghz HT cpu, 1.5gb ram, BFG Nvidia Geforce 7800GS OC AGP, 80gb hdd.

i am taking out the 1.5gb ram which is made up of 2x512mb and 2x256mb. and swapping it to a 2x1gb Patriot cards. i have 4 possible slots for ram on my mob, 2 by each other, and then a space, and then 2 more. my question is, will it matter which slots the 2 cards go in? i do a lot of gaming and need performance, if that helps any.

Thanks,
Jason

Indoril Nerevar · 08-23-2006, 02:59 AM

The easiest way to tell which slots to put the sticks in is to look at the way the current sticks are arranged. The sticks will most likely be arranged in one of these two formats:

256 --- 256 --- 512 --- 512

or

256 --- 512 --- 256 --- 512

Based on your descriptions of the slots, I think it is more likely to be the first.

What you do is simply put the 1GB sticks in the same pattern. Assuming the first pattern is correct, you will end up with:

1024 --- 1024 --- blank --- blank

or

blank --- blank --- 1024 --- 1024

I hope that makes sense.

**MunkyPhil** · 08-23-2006, 03:43 AM

If you want performance dual channel is the way to go, and the set up is usually like this:

1024 --- blank --- 1024 --- blank
or
blank --- 1024 --- blank --- 1024

Check in your manual and it will tell you the DDR RAM population rules. If this doesn't work or you find your system has become unstable then use the set up shown by Indoril above.

alupis · 08-23-2006, 11:11 AM

if it helps, my comp came with 512mb of ram, i added the 2x512mb, and i put the 2x512 right next to eachother. i do not remember how the original config of the ram was. thanks

Indoril Nerevar · 08-23-2006, 04:31 PM

As MunkyPhil said, look in your motherboard manual for the RAM population rules. This will tell you which of the two patterns your RAM slots work in. Make sure you put the RAM in a dual-channel configuration, as that will give you best performance.

From your descriptions, I have the feeling the best way to go is with the sticks right next to each other, but check in the motherboard manual to make sure.

**MunkyPhil** · 08-24-2006, 02:35 AM

Mixing and matching different sticks can cause problems in dual channel so yeah I think Indoril is right on this one.

crazijoe · 08-24-2006, 06:00 AM

The Dell Dimension 4600 uses the Intel 865 chipset. This is a dual channel setup. Memory configuration should be set as the way MunkyPhil has stated above. Be sure to purchase a dual channel kit and not 2 individual modules. as dual channel kits are a matching pair.

alupis · 08-24-2006, 03:49 PM

the new ram i am getting is a kit of 2x1gb Patriot. should this be in the 1gb-blank 1gb-blank config?

Indoril Nerevar · 08-24-2006, 04:17 PM

Check your motherboard manual. I've seen RAM run in dual channel in both patterns, but it depends on the motherboard, and I'm not familiar with that board's population rules. There should be a chart in your motherboard manual which will tell you where to put the sticks.

**Ralck** · 08-25-2006, 12:39 PM

Another thing to do, if you can't find your motherboard manual, is to stick the RAM in either RAM-RAM-blank-blank or RAM-blank-RAM-blank (I'd suggest starting by matching RAM slot colors if they are different). Then download CPU-Z (in my sig) and click the memory tab. It will tell you if the channel is single or dual. If it's not, power down and try moving the RAM sticks.

08-23-2006, 12:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
alupis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CA, USA Posts: 87 OS: XP Pro, Server 2003, Vista, Ubuntu, Red Hat, OSX 10.5.4	Which IS Better? RAM Q's hi! i have a question about ram card placement on my motherboard. i have: Dell Demensions 4600i 3.0Ghz HT cpu, 1.5gb ram, BFG Nvidia Geforce 7800GS OC AGP, 80gb hdd. i am taking out the 1.5gb ram which is made up of 2x512mb and 2x256mb. and swapping it to a 2x1gb Patriot cards. i have 4 possible slots for ram on my mob, 2 by each other, and then a space, and then 2 more. my question is, will it matter which slots the 2 cards go in? i do a lot of gaming and need performance, if that helps any. Thanks, Jason

08-23-2006, 02:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Indoril Nerevar Manager, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,011 OS: Windows 7 RC 64-bit My System	The easiest way to tell which slots to put the sticks in is to look at the way the current sticks are arranged. The sticks will most likely be arranged in one of these two formats: 256 --- 256 --- 512 --- 512 or 256 --- 512 --- 256 --- 512 Based on your descriptions of the slots, I think it is more likely to be the first. What you do is simply put the 1GB sticks in the same pattern. Assuming the first pattern is correct, you will end up with: 1024 --- 1024 --- blank --- blank or blank --- blank --- 1024 --- 1024 I hope that makes sense. __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. • Common PC Game Issues • Common Installation Issues • Posting System Specs • Power Supply Information • • NVIDIA Drivers • ATI Drivers • Thermal Paste Guide • System Requirements Lab • YouGamers Game-o-Meter • • Everest • Prime95 • DirectX • AMD Drivers • Memtest86 • SensorsView • Driver Cleaner • I do not give help via PM. Please post your question on the forum. Last edited by Indoril Nerevar; 08-23-2006 at 03:06 AM.

08-23-2006, 03:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
MunkyPhil TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 1,140 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System	If you want performance dual channel is the way to go, and the set up is usually like this: 1024 --- blank --- 1024 --- blank or blank --- 1024 --- blank --- 1024 Check in your manual and it will tell you the DDR RAM population rules. If this doesn't work or you find your system has become unstable then use the set up shown by Indoril above. __________________ "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." - J. Robert Oppenheimer, July 16th 1945. CPU-z -- Memtest -- Speedfan -- Prime95 -- SandraLite Important Power Supply Info -- Applying Thermal Paste -- Posting System Specs

08-23-2006, 04:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Indoril Nerevar Manager, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,011 OS: Windows 7 RC 64-bit My System	As MunkyPhil said, look in your motherboard manual for the RAM population rules. This will tell you which of the two patterns your RAM slots work in. Make sure you put the RAM in a dual-channel configuration, as that will give you best performance. From your descriptions, I have the feeling the best way to go is with the sticks right next to each other, but check in the motherboard manual to make sure. __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. • Common PC Game Issues • Common Installation Issues • Posting System Specs • Power Supply Information • • NVIDIA Drivers • ATI Drivers • Thermal Paste Guide • System Requirements Lab • YouGamers Game-o-Meter • • Everest • Prime95 • DirectX • AMD Drivers • Memtest86 • SensorsView • Driver Cleaner • I do not give help via PM. Please post your question on the forum.

08-24-2006, 02:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
MunkyPhil TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 1,140 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System	Mixing and matching different sticks can cause problems in dual channel so yeah I think Indoril is right on this one. __________________ "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." - J. Robert Oppenheimer, July 16th 1945. CPU-z -- Memtest -- Speedfan -- Prime95 -- SandraLite Important Power Supply Info -- Applying Thermal Paste -- Posting System Specs

08-23-2006, 11:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
alupis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CA, USA Posts: 87 OS: XP Pro, Server 2003, Vista, Ubuntu, Red Hat, OSX 10.5.4	if it helps, my comp came with 512mb of ram, i added the 2x512mb, and i put the 2x512 right next to eachother. i do not remember how the original config of the ram was. thanks

08-24-2006, 06:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	The Dell Dimension 4600 uses the Intel 865 chipset. This is a dual channel setup. Memory configuration should be set as the way MunkyPhil has stated above. Be sure to purchase a dual channel kit and not 2 individual modules. as dual channel kits are a matching pair. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

08-24-2006, 03:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
alupis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CA, USA Posts: 87 OS: XP Pro, Server 2003, Vista, Ubuntu, Red Hat, OSX 10.5.4	the new ram i am getting is a kit of 2x1gb Patriot. should this be in the 1gb-blank 1gb-blank config?

08-24-2006, 04:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Indoril Nerevar Manager, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,011 OS: Windows 7 RC 64-bit My System	Check your motherboard manual. I've seen RAM run in dual channel in both patterns, but it depends on the motherboard, and I'm not familiar with that board's population rules. There should be a chart in your motherboard manual which will tell you where to put the sticks. __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. • Common PC Game Issues • Common Installation Issues • Posting System Specs • Power Supply Information • • NVIDIA Drivers • ATI Drivers • Thermal Paste Guide • System Requirements Lab • YouGamers Game-o-Meter • • Everest • Prime95 • DirectX • AMD Drivers • Memtest86 • SensorsView • Driver Cleaner • I do not give help via PM. Please post your question on the forum.

08-25-2006, 12:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ralck TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,454 OS: 98SE/XP PRO/FC4 My System	Another thing to do, if you can't find your motherboard manual, is to stick the RAM in either RAM-RAM-blank-blank or RAM-blank-RAM-blank (I'd suggest starting by matching RAM slot colors if they are different). Then download CPU-Z (in my sig) and click the memory tab. It will tell you if the channel is single or dual. If it's not, power down and try moving the RAM sticks. __________________ Power Supply Info Everyone Should Read! How to Post Your System Specs