Dual Channel

agentRed · 11-11-2007, 07:23 PM

Hey guys! got a question for anyone who knows the answer.

For dual channel to work properly, is it necessary that all the sticks in all of the slots to be matching? Like, on my motherboard (Gigabyte DS3 rev. 3.3), there are four slots, which consist of 2 matching colors. Obviously, those are the dual channels. Do channels 0 and 1 have to have matching memory or not?

What I want to know is...could I like...have 1GB DDR2 800(2x512mb) in the first matching slots, and then another set (different brand, same speed, different timings) of 2GB (2x1GB) in the other matching slots? - Would that affect the speed or does each channel function separate from one another?

**Snoopdogie187** · 11-11-2007, 07:55 PM

I am pretty sure that each channel is on its own, so you can put the two different sizes in, just make sure if that you have the pairs in the right slots. Like the ! GB and he other 1GB in the same channel.

Please a yone correct me if wrong.

**twajetmech** · 11-11-2007, 10:25 PM

Snoopdogie187, while correct, normally it is reccomended to use matched pairs in each channel, mixing sizes of modules across and among channels can be hit or miss and not worth the effort imho. So, I would reccomend that since AgentRed aleady has 1GB DDR2 800(2x512mb) then the best route would be to add an additional 1GB DDR2 800(2x512mb) of the same memory or replace them with a matched pair of 2Gb DDR2 800 (2X1Gb).

**linderman** · 11-12-2007, 04:19 PM

agentred

we helped a fella here not long ago who was doing what you are contemplating / although the memory configuration worked, he was getting horrible fps speeds while gaming

he was advised to try dropping down to just the 2 x one gig sticks of DDR-800 and system became remarkedly faster and his fps increased ALOT

so bear this in mind when you consider your next move

personally i would get 2 x one gig sticks and sell off your old pair of 512's on ebay

11-11-2007, 07:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
agentRed Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 383 OS: Windows XP My System	Dual Channel Hey guys! got a question for anyone who knows the answer. For dual channel to work properly, is it necessary that all the sticks in all of the slots to be matching? Like, on my motherboard (Gigabyte DS3 rev. 3.3), there are four slots, which consist of 2 matching colors. Obviously, those are the dual channels. Do channels 0 and 1 have to have matching memory or not? What I want to know is...could I like...have 1GB DDR2 800(2x512mb) in the first matching slots, and then another set (different brand, same speed, different timings) of 2GB (2x1GB) in the other matching slots? - Would that affect the speed or does each channel function separate from one another? __________________ "Your computer isn't smoking yet? Go higher! Go higher!!" -Dr. Whose-a-what-smoking-it "You are now entering the harmonic world..." -Gorillaz

11-11-2007, 07:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,545 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: Dual Channel I am pretty sure that each channel is on its own, so you can put the two different sizes in, just make sure if that you have the pairs in the right slots. Like the ! GB and he other 1GB in the same channel. Please a yone correct me if wrong. __________________ studing = day + night + any free time - times I have exams Infected computer? click here Has TSF Helped You? Posting System Specifications Please Donate to TSF

11-11-2007, 10:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
twajetmech Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,364 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Dual Channel Snoopdogie187, while correct, normally it is reccomended to use matched pairs in each channel, mixing sizes of modules across and among channels can be hit or miss and not worth the effort imho. So, I would reccomend that since AgentRed aleady has 1GB DDR2 800(2x512mb) then the best route would be to add an additional 1GB DDR2 800(2x512mb) of the same memory or replace them with a matched pair of 2Gb DDR2 800 (2X1Gb). __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs

11-12-2007, 04:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,946 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Dual Channel agentred we helped a fella here not long ago who was doing what you are contemplating / although the memory configuration worked, he was getting horrible fps speeds while gaming he was advised to try dropping down to just the 2 x one gig sticks of DDR-800 and system became remarkedly faster and his fps increased ALOT so bear this in mind when you consider your next move personally i would get 2 x one gig sticks and sell off your old pair of 512's on ebay __________________ IF you want or have a high end video card; you should be thinking high end PSU / SEASONIC