4 sticks of RAM and dual channel...

wkabel23

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 2003
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I currently have a P4 2.4C with 2x256MB Corsair XMS PC3500 RAM. It's running dual channel but I could use some more ram. So my question is, if i get 4x256MB XMS PC3500 will performance slow down? Will it run the same speed as it would at 2x256? If not, how much of a difference would it make.

Also, would I be able to get 2x512mb XMS PC3500 and run that in dual channel w/ the 2x256MB?

Tried searching couldn't find an answer, thanks for the help :)
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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It should run at about the same speed after the upgrade... some say it will run faster. You want your third and fourth modules to match eachother, but they don't have to match the first and second modules. All four modules will have to operate at the same speed, but you can pick that manually on most boards other than Intel/Dell/etc.
 

RussianSensation

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Sep 5, 2003
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Also, would I be able to get 2x512mb XMS PC3500 and run that in dual channel w/ the 2x256MB?

Yes, you will able to do that, as long as slots 1&3 and 2&4 match each other in terms of Physical size.

In other words, if you run slot 1&3 at equal sized 256 module, and 2&4 at equal size 512 module it should work dual channel and you'll have 1.5gigs of ram. Some websites show a slight decrease in performance since sometimes with 4 modules you will not be able to run at low timings as before (not always the case, sometimes you can).

Also in terms of having PC3500 and PC3200 together, you can have that too, simply one will default to the speed of the slowest module, and slowest timings.

 

wkabel23

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 2003
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Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Also, would I be able to get 2x512mb XMS PC3500 and run that in dual channel w/ the 2x256MB?

Yes, you will able to do that, as long as slots 1&3 and 2&4 match each other in terms of Physical size.

In other words, if you run slot 1&3 at equal sized 256 module, and 2&4 at equal size 512 module it should work dual channel and you'll have 1.5gigs of ram. Some websites show a slight decrease in performance since sometimes with 4 modules you will not be able to run at low timings as before (not always the case, sometimes you can).

Also in terms of having PC3500 and PC3200 together, you can have that too, simply one will default to the speed of the slowest module, and slowest timings.

thanks

so would i be able to run 2x512MB Kingston HyperX PC3500 and the XMS 2x256MB PC3500 in dual channel?
 

zShowtimez

Senior member
Nov 20, 2001
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You should be able to yes. Just remember, you might have to lower your timings as alot of times when all 4 dimms are populated on i865-875 boards they can get less stable. It looks like your not ocing or anything though so you should be perfectly fine.