2GB Dual Channel vs 2.5GB Non Dual

[sblake]

I am working on a new build. As many have tried 4 sticks of RAM in this Asus P5N-E board and failed to get it to work, I am now one of them. I started with one stick and added one at a time. It never failed to boot. The only setting I changed were the timings and DIMM voltage. Set to 4-4-4-12 2T @ 2.178v. I could not ever pass Memtest86 #5. I now have 2.5GB (2 x1G +1 x512MB). I have passed #5 6 times and the full default tests 2 times. I consider it to be stable in this configuration. I am not a gamer and will do no overclocking. I realize that with 3 sticks I am not running in dual channel. Since I probably would do just fine with 2GB but since I have the 512MB stick I may as well use it. My question is: Will the system run better with 2GB in dual channel or 2.5GB non dual channel? i.e which gives better performance or does it make any difference?

 

[lopri]

That's kind of a dilemma. 🙂 It will depend on applications. Some apps will lose meaningful amount of performance by not having dual channel, but others will not be affected. First of all, what is the NB voltage in the BIOS? (SPP in NV's term) If it's set at 1.20~1.25V, try up'ing it to 1.35~1.45V. I think the memory controller needs more juice.

 

[sblake]

Originally posted by: lopri
That's kind of a dilemma. 🙂 It will depend on applications. Some apps will lose meaningful amount of performance by not having dual channel, but others will not be affected. First of all, what is the NB voltage in the BIOS? (SPP in NV's term) If it's set at 1.20~1.25V, try up'ing it to 1.35~1.45V. I think the memory controller needs more juice.

The NB voltage was set to auto. I tried 1.393v & 1.563v and it didn't help.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why not buy and install another 512MB DIMM, and then you would have your dual-channel back.

If you will indeed be using over 2GB worth of RAM, then yes it's worthwhile to have 2.5 non-DC. But if you won't be, then it would be better to run 2GB DC.

 

[DSF]

Did you fail Memtest with relaxed timings, or was that only after you changed the timings to 4-4-4-12?

 

[sblake]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Why not buy and install another 512MB DIMM, and then you would have your dual-channel back.

If you will indeed be using over 2GB worth of RAM, then yes it's worthwhile to have 2.5 non-DC. But if you won't be, then it would be better to run 2GB DC.

If you look in my original post you will see that I could not get it to work with 4 sticks. I have two 512's but I just can't get 4 sticks to work.

 

[sblake]

Originally posted by: DSF
Did you fail Memtest with relaxed timings, or was that only after you changed the timings to 4-4-4-12?

After I changed the timings to 4-4-4-12 2T