a8nsli + 2 gigs of Kingston low latency and dual channel

[karmadharma]

Hello, this is my first post here so please be gentle

I've recently bought an a8n-sli with a 3500+ and 2 gigs of low latency kingston RAM (4x512, 2-2-2-5 KHX3200ULK2/1G). I do need 2 gigs of RAM so 4x512 or 2x1024 are my only options really.

Unfortunately this memory is running only in single channel mode (as evidenced by my sandra scores) and on the asus website there doesn't seem to be absolutely any CL2 memory 'supported' in a 4-sticks configuration and the only 1gb sticks option is the corsair TWINX2048-3200C2 which is not available here (and it would be 2-3-3-6 anyways).

Am I SOL here? in your experience, do new(er) bios revisions sometimes enable dual channel support for more RAM types/manifacturers? Is there anything I can do?

 

[FastEddie]

These should run in Dual Channel mode, but you may have to manually set the timings up in the bios. Whether or not you can get them running at 1T as oppossed to 2T is another matter. Have you tested each individual stick with memtest to see if they all pass?

 

[karmadharma]

hmmm, I have tried to set them at 1t, 2-2-2-5 in the bios (as opposed to leave things on 'auto') and they run fine, all the mem memtests fine as well: I always thought dual channel was something one could not set in the bios but that was un-overrideable.

[edit] it also seems other CL2 ram on the asus qvl for this motherboard is dual channel supported only for 2 sticks and not 4. I wonder if the timings have something to do with it or what.

 

[SirAllen]

So did you get it to work? I'm looking at getting this board and want to run 2GB mem as well.

 

[karmadharma]

I just posted this question a few hours ago: 2gb of ram does work in this board with these modules but it seems only in single channel (IIRC I'm seeing around 3600-3700 in sandra 2005, will double check tonight at home).

Somebody else on the long a8n thread is running with 4x512 as well but he's getting better scores than I do so maybe in his case it *is* working dual channel (he has 4x512 Corsair XMS PC3200XL according to his sig).

 

[ahurtt]

I think I read someplace (I'll dig around for the link if I have time) that for Dual Channel configurations, you are safer and better off going with smaller capacity DIMMS (<= 512 Meg) rather than 1 Gig sticks. Or that if you DO choose 1 Gig sticks, you must choose very very meticulously to find ones that will work dual channel. Also make sure your modules follow these rules I found at buildorbuy.org:

"Rules to Enable Dual Channel Mode
To achieve Dual Channel mode, the following conditions must be met:

Matched DIMM configuration in each channel
Same Density (128MB, 256MB, 512MB, etc.)
Same DRAM technology (128Mb, 256Mb, or 512Mb)
Same DRAM bus width (x8 or x16)
All either single-sided or dual-sided
Matched in both Channel A and Channel B memory channels
Populate symmetrical memory slots (Slot 0 or Slot 1)
Note: Configurations that do not match the above conditions will revert to Single Channel mode.

The following conditions do not need to be met:
Same brand
Same timing specifications
Same DDR speed "


Note at the end it says you don't have to have modules of the same DDR speed but both will probably run at the speed of the slowest DIMM if they don't match.

 

[FastEddie]

No, there is no bios setting for Dual Channel. Like I said, if the modules are identical, they should run in dual channel mode. Have you tried using just a pair of modules, to see if they run in dual channel mode?

Next subject=you may have to set up your timings manually, because you are using four modules.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I think its the 1T command rate thats preventing you from running dual channel. I,m surprised it will even run 1T with 4 sticks of memory. I'm guessing if you change to 2T it will run dual channel.

Although if you can run stable at 1T in single channel you may get better performance than with dual channel at 2T. 2T is a big hit to performance on an A64

 

[|TOAST|]

I ran into this conundrum a couple months back when spec'ing out my new system for this year. I absolutely had to have 2GB RAM, dual channel, 1T timings, matched pairs or kits from trusted memory brands (Corsair, Crucial Ballistix, Kingston, OCZ, etc.) and, if possible, the lowest latency. They best I could do was the KHX3200K2/2G at 2.5-3-3-7-1T. That latency is incredible considering offerings from the aforementioned memory manufacturers and the price was several bills less to boot!. ZZF has it for 560 (about 200+ less than others I found). I still cannot say whether it runs as advertised because I have purchased everything but am awaiting the arrival of my preordered DFI NF4 LanParty SLI-DR. If it doesn't work, then I will be going through Kingston support or awaiting a BIOS update to fix this issue. Also, this RAM apparently will do 3-4-4-8-1T@250MHz@2.6V (it's in the SPD - http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=211 )! I wonder what might happen with up to 4V! Probably fried eggs and RAM. Although, bandwidth isn't as important as timings (according to Zebo's post of findings - http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=1475190&enterthread=y ) with the A64's so I probably will just stick to PC3200 speeds or even PC2700 if I can get 2-2-2-10-1T (which is probably an incredible stretch).

 

[rz8168]

I have TWINX2048-3200C2PT and they are running dual channel no problem. For 2GB, 1Gb per stick, 2-3-3-6 is pretty low timing for me. I might try 4x512MB of Crucial Ballistic with 2-2-2-5 if possible.