DDR2 running in dual channel mode

[farmerandtheDell]

I recently purchased a Dell 4700.. it uses DDR2 memory, and I decided to upgrade to one gig.. anyway, according to the intel site for the 915G series motherboards, the DIMMs only need to be of the same size, type, and configuration in order to work as "dual channel"... however, after installing two 512mb modules (with consecutive serial numbers), it recognizes it as two 512mb running at 400mhz, but only in single channel mode.. what gives? the bios says I can't modify what is displayed, so it can't be something the user sets? only automatically detected.? Should I care? is running in dual channel worth it? I want it to work anyway, since I went through the trouble of getting a pair. Any help out there?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Did you put them in the right slots? Intel chips love dual-channel for the extra bandwidth.

 

[farmerandtheDell]

I believe so.. I'll have to check the manual, but they were installed as a pair in the "A" bank. There's only four slots, a pair of A and a pair of B..
In your experience, is there any other reason why two identical chips wouldn't operate in dual channel mode? When they talk about buying "matched" pairs as a kit, is there something special about those two? According to the intel site, they don't even need to be the same mfgr, just so long as they're internally the same.

 

[farmerandtheDell]

well, it looks like I'm not too bright.. misread the manual apparently, as they should be installed in slots 1 and 3 most likely, and not 1 and 2 according to other posts. If that's wrong too, let me know.

 

[biostud]

Yes you need one in each bank.