Buy as Dual Channel Kit or 2 identical rams?

PlayStation · 02-25-2007, 01:35 PM

im trying to buy a 1gb memory stick on ebay. I understand for desktop PCs, I need unregistered, non-Ecc, unbuffered, low density ram. but if I want to run dual channel, would I need to buy memories in a specific dual channel kit packet? or can I just buy 2 of the same identical ram that doesn't state itself as a kit?

**8210GUY** · 02-25-2007, 01:40 PM

Definitely buy as matched pairs if you want to run them as such, they are guaranteed to work as such that way, 2 separate sticks may not always work.

Tumbleweed36 · 02-25-2007, 01:48 PM

Hi,

8310GUY is correct as usual. Dual channel mode with matched sticks is the way to go if you want optimal usage of your purchase.

**PanamaGal** · 02-25-2007, 06:57 PM

You can buy two identical sticks separately. They don't have to be in a dual channel kit, as all those kits are are two identical sticks. There is no such thing as "dual channel RAM".

Rebellion88 · 02-26-2007, 05:18 AM

Just expanding on above, you also need to make sure your motherboard supports dual channel. Either way better to get a matched pair, as mixing doesn't always work. If you tell us the pc make and model or your system specs we're point you in the right direction for a good pair of Ram.

**crazijoe** · 02-26-2007, 05:56 AM

I would like to explain the dual channel kit.
Motherboard that are configured to run in dual channel mode often need a pair of memory modules that are exact in every way. Latency, speed, size, etc. With a dual channel kit you will be gaurrantied that you will get this becasue they are tested to be identical.

One thing you must realize that when memory manufacturers buy memory chips, they do not buy from the same vendor. It is all supply and demand. It can be possible to buy 2 separate sticks of memory, from one manufacturer, that will have different chips on them. I have seen this alot.
i.e.: Our company decided to upgrade all the laptops we had to 1GB of memory. We bought 36 sticks of 512MB Kingston memory all from the same store. All the modules were the same part number. However there was three different chips. Some had micron chips, some had Infineon chips and the rest had Samsung chips.

In otherwords even if you buy 2 separate modules, you are not going to be guarrantied that they will be the same. Even if they have the same part numbers.

I have even seen motherboard configurations that do not like 2 dual channel kits that are different. i.e. ABIT IC7 MAX3, installed 1GB OCZ dual channel kit and 512MB Corsair Dual channel kit. It was not happy. Both kits would work by themselves but together the system didn't like it. Ended up buying another 1GB OCZ dual channel kit.

Most of the dual channel memory problems I have seen in these forums has to do with the user not installing a dual channel kit. You can buy 2 separate memory modules and force the BIOS into single channel mode but then what's the point in having a dual channel MB.

**linderman** · 02-28-2007, 04:27 AM

NICE work C-joe well written!

02-25-2007, 01:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
PlayStation Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Buy as Dual Channel Kit or 2 identical rams? im trying to buy a 1gb memory stick on ebay. I understand for desktop PCs, I need unregistered, non-Ecc, unbuffered, low density ram. but if I want to run dual channel, would I need to buy memories in a specific dual channel kit packet? or can I just buy 2 of the same identical ram that doesn't state itself as a kit?

02-25-2007, 01:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 14,102 OS: XP Professional	Hi, 8310GUY is correct as usual. Dual channel mode with matched sticks is the way to go if you want optimal usage of your purchase. __________________ ---------- Last edited by Tumbleweed36 : 02-25-2007 at 07:07 PM. Reason: Statement was not worded correctly.

02-25-2007, 06:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	You can buy two identical sticks separately. They don't have to be in a dual channel kit, as all those kits are are two identical sticks. There is no such thing as "dual channel RAM". __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

02-26-2007, 05:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rebellion88 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 422 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit My System	Just expanding on above, you also need to make sure your motherboard supports dual channel. Either way better to get a matched pair, as mixing doesn't always work. If you tell us the pc make and model or your system specs we're point you in the right direction for a good pair of Ram. __________________ - Dean National Diploma Software Development National Diploma Hardware Route

02-26-2007, 05:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
crazijoe Moderator, Hardware Forums Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	I would like to explain the dual channel kit. Motherboard that are configured to run in dual channel mode often need a pair of memory modules that are exact in every way. Latency, speed, size, etc. With a dual channel kit you will be gaurrantied that you will get this becasue they are tested to be identical. One thing you must realize that when memory manufacturers buy memory chips, they do not buy from the same vendor. It is all supply and demand. It can be possible to buy 2 separate sticks of memory, from one manufacturer, that will have different chips on them. I have seen this alot. i.e.: Our company decided to upgrade all the laptops we had to 1GB of memory. We bought 36 sticks of 512MB Kingston memory all from the same store. All the modules were the same part number. However there was three different chips. Some had micron chips, some had Infineon chips and the rest had Samsung chips. In otherwords even if you buy 2 separate modules, you are not going to be guarrantied that they will be the same. Even if they have the same part numbers. I have even seen motherboard configurations that do not like 2 dual channel kits that are different. i.e. ABIT IC7 MAX3, installed 1GB OCZ dual channel kit and 512MB Corsair Dual channel kit. It was not happy. Both kits would work by themselves but together the system didn't like it. Ended up buying another 1GB OCZ dual channel kit. Most of the dual channel memory problems I have seen in these forums has to do with the user not installing a dual channel kit. You can buy 2 separate memory modules and force the BIOS into single channel mode but then what's the point in having a dual channel MB. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

02-25-2007, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
8210GUY TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,566 OS: xp Pro	Definitely buy as matched pairs if you want to run them as such, they are guaranteed to work as such that way, 2 separate sticks may not always work.

02-28-2007, 04:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,030 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	NICE work C-joe well written! __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent.