about dual channel memory?

[Sylvanas]

well when running in "dual channel mode" you apparently get a big performance increase with alot more bandwidth to play with.

now i was thinking on buying 2x256mb xms modules to go along with my xms512. This would be taking up all three Dimm slots, right, so my 512 is in dimm 1, and to have it in dual channel mode, do you have to have dimm's 2 and 3 equalling 512mb??? (eg 2x256) to get it to work in dual channel mode?!

so all up id have a Gig working in dual channel, correct?

 

[Corporate Thug]

dual channel does next to nothing for AXP systems

why not just get another 512 of xms rather than 2*256? then you'll have 2*512 in Dual channel

 

[Sylvanas]

so you dont need 2x256? just put in a 512 and itll work in dual channel?!

 

[WhineBaby]

Sorry, but as I understand it, you are not eligible for that "big performance increase" until you have an Intel processor board specifically designed to do the "Dual Channel Dance." On top of that, you would want fairly closely matched memory sticks lest one of them get out of step during this exercise in duality, and cause (gasp!) the disharmony of undesired WAIT STATES to occur.

Bottom line: you gotta have a dual channel board to get dual channel performance. Last I knew, AMD wasn't there yet. But don't worry, the day-to-day performance increase with dual-channel isn't as impressively overwhelming as most would like it to be.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
so you dont need 2x256? just put in a 512 and itll work in dual channel?!

as long as its rated to the same speed, same size, and same maufacterer, you'll be fine

 

[Sylvanas]

yeh im having a look around at some benchmarks before i decide. But the nforce 2 ultra 400 definitely supports dual channel memory........

 

[Giscardo]

If you plan to do dual channel on your Barton, don't expect any noticeable performance increase.

 

[Sylvanas]

what about on games such as UT2004 that require quite alot of cpu power? and i have onboard ac97 audio that would chew up alot of bandwidth when playing these games right? any comments?

 

[WhineBaby]

Oops, I am more out of date than I thought, Sylvanas, and I have not kept up with AMD memory support options. Your board IS supposed to support dual channel, and with three memory slots doesn't much resemble the Intel boards I have with their neatly paired slots labeled "channel one" and "channel two" and highlighted in contrasting colors.

Maybe the AMD boards are not as picky about matched memory sticks as the finicky Intel brand boards I have, but I am afraid my ignorance disqualifies me from further serious comment. Still, I bet you don't notice as much benefit from making dual channel run as you would from filling all your slots with 512's.

 

[Sylvanas]

yeh, but i dont really want to shell out on more 512's when ddr2 is coming soon :beer:

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
what about on games such as UT2004 that require quite alot of cpu power? and i have onboard ac97 audio that would chew up alot of bandwidth when playing these games right? any comments?

The important thing for an nForce2 system is simply to have enough memory to meet the needs of Windows and your programs (games, Photoshop, whatever you use the system for). pspada tried various setups using his two 256MB modules and his 512MB module on his nForce2 board, and his results in UT2003 Demo Botmatch benchmarks didn't even matter what slots the modules were in, it was pretty much a tie. So plug in the RAM and go enjoy your system