Am I running Dual Channel?

[srps]

I have added Kingston ValueRam PC2700 256MB stick to an existing PC3200 256MB stick to make it a total of 512MB. This is for DELLL 3000 system capable of 800FSB, but only runs in 533FSB due to the Celeron processor installed. The existing stick came from factory (says Hyundai Electronics). The Kingston memory bought in BestBuy clearly says this module doesn't work in Dual Channel mode.

Now, when look in the BIOS setup , it says DUAL channel. When I look at the memory config through CPU-Z utility it says memory is 512MB in DUAL channel.

I have read tons of posts saysing the sticks have to be a "made in heaven" match with clock speed, manufacturer, latency, SPD numbers etc identical for DUAL channel to work.

Am I really running DUAL channel?

 

[amol]

dual channel has to do with the motherboard, not the ram itself

 

[dc5]

i don't think intel celerons support dual channel.

 

[Jotho]

If both the POST message and CPU-Z agree, I would conclude that you are indeed functioning in dual-channel mode

 

[srps]

Indeed! It is running in Dual Channel. I checked with Sandra benchmark tool. It was giving 2800+MBPS bandwidth with both stick in. With the second Kingston stick removed, it is only showing 1800+ MBPS bandwidth. Sandra also reported that there 2 channels when I had both sticks in the system.

I am surprised at this finding. There is lot of skepticism around being able to run dual channel. Manufacturers cash in on concern by bundling the memory sticks and pricing them higher for Dual Channel assurance.

It is misleading by Kingston to explicitly label this memory I bought as "not dual channel compatible", when in fact it can run in dual channel mode.

In case any body is interested the SPD timings on this PC2700 Value Ram are 2.5-3-3-7.