DDR RAM

[Xxspd88xX]

hey guys, i was wondering if DDR ram must be installed in pairs.

as of now, i have 2 sticks of 256mb pc2700 ram, and i dug out another 512mb pc2700 from my other computer. but i dont know if it is absolutely necessary that the 512mb stick is paired with another stick, or if i can just stick it in by itself.

if anyone can give me some info, thatd b great.

 

[TNM93]

No, it doesn't have to be installed in pairs. SIMMS had to be installed in pairs, but those went out years ago.

 

[Xxspd88xX]

thanx a lot. i would just assume that the 512 wouldnt b operating at its full potential ?

 

[TNM93]

It should operate at it's full potential.

 

[LxMxFxD3]

DIMMs to not HAVE to be installed in pairs.

However, while you'll have full utilization of the entire memory, the speed of access will be diminished if you do not have the exact same amount of ram in each "channel".

If for example you run an a64 setup and have 1x512+1x256 in one channel and another 1x256 in the 2nd channel, you will see only 64Bit bus, or half the bandwidth.

If I were you I'd try to find a way to buy another stick of 512MB - performance gain is significant.

 

[tyborg]

What about RIMMs?

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, you really want to install 2 sticks of DDR to get the performance boost of dual channel mode. You don't have to, but you'd be a fool not to unless you simply can't afford 2 sticks, or you have an older board that doesn't have the dual channel mode.

Rimms have to be in pairs except for a few odd boards that used single channel RDRAM. I think they were P3 boards.

 

[Xxspd88xX]

alright. thanx everyone. also, would it b better to have more memory or better to have more bandwidth.
so is 1gb 64bit better or worse than 512mb 128bit.

 

[acole1]

i'd say go w\ the 1gb... you will get more use out of the size rather than the bandwidth. if it was 1gb or 2gb it might be a different story.