Does Abit Ic7 work in DC with 2x256 + 2x512?

[apoppin]

Hi . . . i'm new to MBs



Currently i am running two similar pairs of 256MB RAM in DC . . . they run at the slower of the two timings [very similar] with no performance hit [i.e: 512 MB of Mushkin + 512 MB OCZ = 4x256 PC-3500 CAS 2-3-3-7 in D.C.]

Can i get away with replacing the Muskin 2x256MB with OCZ 2x512MB? . . . that way i get 1.5GB RAM

i heard that XP does not "play well" with 1.5GB RAM? True?

Does Win2K also have a similar 'limitation'?

 

[t73]

well we are in the same boat

I remember few things form past readings,
That config. may work but be effective as 1G..
Moreover, theres something to do with different formation of a 256 RAM vs 512 ( single sided vs double sided) that can cause stability issues with or w/o DC.

Is there truth in all this?

 

[apoppin]

letsee this IS the MotherBoard forum . . .

. . . Abit IC7 used to be popular and is a good o/c'er . . . i'd like the extend my rig's life for another year with a x1950p in AGP and more RAM.

anybody with experience or who knows?

 

[apoppin]

no one?

t73 e-mailed Abit . . . i'll post results - if any - since no one here evidently knows.

 

[t73]

Yup, and got this reply from Abit

Dear Customer,

We recommend use matched pair memory modules for dual channel configuration. The board will still works with 2 different pair of dual channel memory modules. However, the speed may reduce to which ever is slower.

Best Regards,

Abit FAE Team

 

[apoppin]

awesome . . . it will work fine then

i already have "mismatched" pairs with no penalty . . . i'll just make sure what i get is the equal of what i got.

 

[t73]

Must say Abit reply was fast :thumbsup:

From what they tell 2x256+2x512 will work as DC, but they do not recommend it.
So it's not so clear to me what the performance difference would be between 1G and 1.5G (i.e will we feel the boost benefit of the extra 512M DC or that the performance will be more or less similar)

I asked abit about the above as well , to make certain we choose the right upgrade.

 

[t73]

So I got the new reply but with nothing new.

Dear Customer,

The memory should still run in dual channel configuration with 2 matched pair. But if the speed is different, the overall speed will based on the slower pair.

We recommend use all 4 identical memory modules for dual channel configurations.


Best Regards,

Abit FAE Team

Maybe I'll just add 2*512 to the rig, if it won't work as expected then I'll change to 4*512.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: t73
So I got the new reply but with nothing new.

Dear Customer,

The memory should still run in dual channel configuration with 2 matched pair. But if the speed is different, the overall speed will based on the slower pair.

We recommend use all 4 identical memory modules for dual channel configurations.


Best Regards,

Abit FAE Team

Maybe I'll just add 2*512 to the rig, if it won't work as expected then I'll change to 4*512.

thanks . . .

and

...told you so



that's what i am gonna do .. . . soon as RAM prices drop a bit . . . 2x512 is just what the doctor orered ... 1.5GB should be reasonable for games ... and maybe Vista... then a rig makeover next Winter.
:thumbsup: