2x Memory

[CyNics]

Can 2x memory drops my motherboard overclock capability drastically?

 

[teqwiz]

If you are refering to the two different speeds of mem that your rig shows, then yes. the 2100 will slow down the 2400 slightly. Your max capabilities should be controlled by the dimm with the least capabilities. ie speed, and BIOS options. You should try the 2100 in the first slot first as the operating system will be smoother if it is configed for the slower speed and extentions that this dimm will support. You would lose the extras of the 2400, if it indeed has any, but overall system performance should be better. This is most often the case, though not always, as variables of DDR are quite similar from one to the next.
This was always the case for SDRAM.

Try both ways and run some benches. Write down the Bios options available for each mem in slot 1. They may all be the same options, But performance might vary drastically. Test Test Test.

LOL

 

[CyNics]

teqwiz: I was refering to 2 same speed memory, such as PC2700. Compare to 1 stick of 512mb memory, can 2x 256mb memory drops my overclock drastically(because of instabiliy)?

 

[panhead49]

simple answer......yes..........your board overclocks better with 1 mem slot occupied......of course there are many other things that come into play when o/cing....

 

[teqwiz]

Originally posted by: panhead49
simple answer......yes..........your board overclocks better with 1 mem slot occupied......of course there are many other things that come into play when o/cing....

I agree that OC is better with one DIMM. But, 2 254s for instance are only slightly slower if they are the same brand and make. Often $ prohibits buying a 512 stick, when upgrading a little at a time is some times the only option. The difference in speed to syncronize two sticks at the speed of mem these days, is hardly noticable at best.

 

[CyNics]

Originally posted by: panhead49
simple answer......yes..........your board overclocks better with 1 mem slot occupied......of course there are many other things that come into play when o/cing....

just a few mhz or drastically?

 

[RalfHutter]

I've een playing with two sticks of 512MB Corsair XMS3200c2 on my P4 rig (I need the gig of RAM).

When I run them together I can get 145FSB or 387MHZ DDR max at CAS 2.5-3-3-7.

I decided to pull one out the other day just to see what I could get with just one stick. Right away I'm up to 160FSB or 426MHZ DDR @ CL 2.5-3-3-7. I haven't tried any higher yet, I've been running Memtest86 and Prime 95 to check for stability.

Short answer is "yes, 2 sticks do drop your OC-ability". YMMV.

 

[CyNics]

15mhz diff. !!! :Q
okay. I'm getting one stick of 512mb mem

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: CyNics
15mhz diff. !!! :Q
okay. I'm getting one stick of 512mb mem

15Mhz on the FSB, but 39Mhz on the RAM.

Sandra memory scores are 2934/2923 for the 387Mhz RAM and 3254/3253 for the 426Mhz RAM. That's 320Mhz more throughput for the faster RAM. Quite a bit.