Dual Channel Question

mycomputerhurts · 03-28-2007, 09:54 PM

Pretty simple question, I suppose.

Basically, I have dual channel and I'm currently using both a 1 gig and a 512 stick.

I just figured, what would be in my price range, for 2 more 1 gig sticks (same kind; pc3200 ddr), would it be fine to only use the 3 slots I've got? Or am I just dumb?

chauffeur2 · 03-28-2007, 10:03 PM

G'Day mycomputerhurts,

To answer your question...

It would depend entirely upon what the maximum alowwable RAM your motherboard can take.
If you can please give us your system specs it would be a great assistance in guiding you in the right direction.

Here is a good tutorial about a freeware program that will give you and us all the information that we will require (if you are not too sure as to how to find it).

Post back with the info and any further queries/concerns.

Regards,

chauffeur2 · 03-28-2007, 10:04 PM

G'Day mycomputerhurts,

To answer your question...

It would depend entirely upon what the maximum alowwable RAM your motherboard can take.
If you can please give us your system specs it would be a great assistance in guiding you in the right direction.

Here is a good tutorial about a freeware program that will give you and us all the information that we will require (if you are not too sure as to how to find it).

Post back with the info and any further queries/concerns.

Regards,

mycomputerhurts · 03-28-2007, 11:27 PM

Ah, yes. Well it holds up to 4 gigs of ram; there's four slots, so i figured with just simply 3 (already having a 1 gig stick and buying 2 more) that it would work on the dual channel?

My current board:
http://www.asus.com.tw/products4.asp...03&modelmenu=1
ASUS A8 VM

Currently has 1.5 gigs of ram, some top of the line ATI graphics card shoved in there and an AMD processor that I'll be happy enough to figure out which it is after work, later.

**mattlock** · 03-29-2007, 12:31 AM

[quote=mycomputerhurts;840672]Ah, yes. Well it holds up to 4 gigs of ram; there's four slots, so i figured with just simply 3 (already having a 1 gig stick and buying 2 more) that it would work on the dual channel?

In order to run in dual channel mode you have to use matching pairs of ram (I.E. 2 x 1gb pc3200 or 2 x 512 pc3200)

If you have only 3 of the 4 dimm slots filled the system will be running single channel mode.

If you have only two sticks installed, like you do, a 1gb and a 512mb it will only run in single channel also.

bergasha · 03-29-2007, 12:32 AM

Hi
unless u are a serious gamer just get another 1 gig and that should be fine

**MaverickUK** · 03-29-2007, 03:26 AM

Hi,

You should probably sell the existing RAM you have and then buy a 2GB module kit of PC3200. The reason it is best to buy dual channel RAM in kits is due to the fact that they are always 100% matched, in terms of size, speed, manufacturer, latency, model number, chip type et al - meaning there should be no problems with conflictions. Sometimes when buying more RAM and even if it is bought by the same manufacturer and has the same speed, density, size and even model number; it can cause problems due to difference in the chips used. It is obviously totally up to you how you wish to go about upgrading, but that is my suggestion.

Nick.

mycomputerhurts · 03-29-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaverickUK

Hi,
You should probably sell the existing RAM you have and then buy a 2GB module kit of PC3200. The reason it is best to buy dual channel RAM in kits is due to the fact that they are always 100% matched, in terms of size, speed, manufacturer, latency, model number, chip type et al - meaning there should be no problems with conflictions. Sometimes when buying more RAM and even if it is bought by the same manufacturer and has the same speed, density, size and even model number; it can cause problems due to difference in the chips used. It is obviously totally up to you how you wish to go about upgrading, but that is my suggestion.
Nick.

Yeah, I bought the same cards. All 1gb sticks, but I wasn't really sure much on dual channel. If only 3 sticks were in (3/4 slots being full) is the third stick even doing anything and will there be complications?

Not only am I gamer, but I do graphic media and often rely on more ram for when I tend to have to use multiple programs at once.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattlock138

If you have only 3 of the 4 dimm slots filled the system will be running single channel mode.

So there would be no complications but it would not be running as fast as it should be in dual channel, basically?

**mattlock** · 03-29-2007, 10:00 PM

No problem at all. I'm running 2.5gbs in mine right now (had to put a stick in my kids PC while I'm waiting for new ram) 2x1gb & 1 512. Just runs a little slower than the same amount of ram running in Dual Channel.]

Basically Dual Channel mode is theoritically able to transfer data at twice the rate as Single Channel mode.

**MaverickUK** · 03-30-2007, 03:06 AM

Only problem with dual channel is that it never does, such a pain. Matt is spot on - and to further answer the question, there will be no complications what-so-ever, just the fact that it will be running in single channel mode (having it run in dual channel is a bonus, but is optional).

Nick.

mycomputerhurts · 03-30-2007, 05:41 AM

Ooh. Well, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate the help. I knew very little about dual channel and couldn't find much information on the internet aside putting ram in the similiar color sockets. Thanks again!

**mattlock** · 03-30-2007, 08:30 AM

It's my pleasure MyComputerHurts. By the way, that's a great screen name.

If you would like to know more abot how Memory works, check this link out. Double click on #4 and it'll fully explain Dual Channel. Have your volume turn on.

03-28-2007, 09:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
mycomputerhurts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 42 OS: XP	Dual Channel Question Pretty simple question, I suppose. Basically, I have dual channel and I'm currently using both a 1 gig and a 512 stick. I just figured, what would be in my price range, for 2 more 1 gig sticks (same kind; pc3200 ddr), would it be fine to only use the 3 slots I've got? Or am I just dumb?

03-28-2007, 10:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,064 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: Dual Channel Question G'Day mycomputerhurts, To answer your question... It would depend entirely upon what the maximum alowwable RAM your motherboard can take. If you can please give us your system specs it would be a great assistance in guiding you in the right direction. Here is a good tutorial about a freeware program that will give you and us all the information that we will require (if you are not too sure as to how to find it). Post back with the info and any further queries/concerns. Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

03-28-2007, 10:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,064 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: Dual Channel Question G'Day mycomputerhurts, To answer your question... It would depend entirely upon what the maximum alowwable RAM your motherboard can take. If you can please give us your system specs it would be a great assistance in guiding you in the right direction. Here is a good tutorial about a freeware program that will give you and us all the information that we will require (if you are not too sure as to how to find it). Post back with the info and any further queries/concerns. Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

03-28-2007, 11:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
mycomputerhurts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 42 OS: XP	Re: Dual Channel Question Ah, yes. Well it holds up to 4 gigs of ram; there's four slots, so i figured with just simply 3 (already having a 1 gig stick and buying 2 more) that it would work on the dual channel? My current board: http://www.asus.com.tw/products4.asp...03&modelmenu=1 ASUS A8 VM Currently has 1.5 gigs of ram, some top of the line ATI graphics card shoved in there and an AMD processor that I'll be happy enough to figure out which it is after work, later.

03-29-2007, 12:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
mattlock moderator hardware team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,823 OS: XP SP2, Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon My System	Re: Dual Channel Question [quote=mycomputerhurts;840672]Ah, yes. Well it holds up to 4 gigs of ram; there's four slots, so i figured with just simply 3 (already having a 1 gig stick and buying 2 more) that it would work on the dual channel? In order to run in dual channel mode you have to use matching pairs of ram (I.E. 2 x 1gb pc3200 or 2 x 512 pc3200) If you have only 3 of the 4 dimm slots filled the system will be running single channel mode. If you have only two sticks installed, like you do, a 1gb and a 512mb it will only run in single channel also. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free! Last edited by mattlock : 03-29-2007 at 12:35 AM.

03-29-2007, 12:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
bergasha Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 22 OS: xp	Re: Dual Channel Question Hi unless u are a serious gamer just get another 1 gig and that should be fine

03-29-2007, 03:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
MaverickUK TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 710 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Dual Channel Question Hi, You should probably sell the existing RAM you have and then buy a 2GB module kit of PC3200. The reason it is best to buy dual channel RAM in kits is due to the fact that they are always 100% matched, in terms of size, speed, manufacturer, latency, model number, chip type et al - meaning there should be no problems with conflictions. Sometimes when buying more RAM and even if it is bought by the same manufacturer and has the same speed, density, size and even model number; it can cause problems due to difference in the chips used. It is obviously totally up to you how you wish to go about upgrading, but that is my suggestion. Nick. __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate Last edited by MaverickUK : 03-29-2007 at 03:36 AM.

03-29-2007, 10:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
mattlock moderator hardware team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,823 OS: XP SP2, Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon My System	Re: Dual Channel Question No problem at all. I'm running 2.5gbs in mine right now (had to put a stick in my kids PC while I'm waiting for new ram) 2x1gb & 1 512. Just runs a little slower than the same amount of ram running in Dual Channel.] Basically Dual Channel mode is theoritically able to transfer data at twice the rate as Single Channel mode. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

03-30-2007, 03:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
MaverickUK TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 710 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Dual Channel Question Only problem with dual channel is that it never does, such a pain. Matt is spot on - and to further answer the question, there will be no complications what-so-ever, just the fact that it will be running in single channel mode (having it run in dual channel is a bonus, but is optional). Nick. __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

03-30-2007, 05:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
mycomputerhurts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 42 OS: XP	Re: Dual Channel Question Ooh. Well, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate the help. I knew very little about dual channel and couldn't find much information on the internet aside putting ram in the similiar color sockets. Thanks again!

03-30-2007, 08:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
mattlock moderator hardware team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,823 OS: XP SP2, Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon My System	Re: Dual Channel Question It's my pleasure MyComputerHurts. By the way, that's a great screen name. If you would like to know more abot how Memory works, check this link out. Double click on #4 and it'll fully explain Dual Channel. Have your volume turn on. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free! Last edited by mattlock : 03-30-2007 at 08:38 AM. Reason: Memory info link