Dual-Channel cuts memory in half??

Coherence

Senior member
Jul 26, 2002
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I know this can't be right, but I'm going to ask it anyway. An associate of mine is under the impression that if you want to run 512MB dual-channel DDR on the new P4 800Mhz FSB, you need need to buy two 512MB sticks, which would make one think you have a total of 1GB, but in dual-channel mode you will only see 512MB.

I thought dual-channel memory acted in a similar fashion to RAID-0, that the two sticks (or harddrives) are still added together, but it essentially splits files in two between them (like striping), so that when read back it can pull the halves from each stick/drive simultaneously, essentially cutting load time in half.

I know you have to use identical DIMMs (capacity, number of chips, single/double-sided, latency, etc.), but I think he misinterpreted something in that to mean you only get half what you paid for.

If he's right, and that is how dual-channel memory works with the 800FSB P4, is that also the case with nForce2?

Please tell me he's wrong, it just doesn't sound right to me.
 

Swanny

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
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However much memory you put in, you get out. Dual channel does not change that.
 

Coherence

Senior member
Jul 26, 2002
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That's what I thought. I told him he was confusing dual-channel memory with RAID-1 (probably).