Dual channel memory

[Stonesoldier]

i have a asus A8V deluxe MB with 1Gb (2x512) pc3200 dual channel memory 2-3-3-6
i am running vista home premium

i just inherited a stick of 512mb pc3200 single channel out of a dead eMachine

if i put this new stick in my system will it work right or will it bog down my system ?

will it stop the dual channel from working correctly ?

can dual channel and single channel memory be mixed?

 

[nefariouscaine]

they can be mixed - yes but you won't be running anything in dual channel - your gonna have 1.5 gigs of DDR-400 in single channel - you'll need to set the timings for all sticks to settings they can all run at which might be looser than your current 2-3-3-6

honestly your performance differences will lay in what kind of applications you generally run - if they are requiring a larger amount of memory then you might show a bit of an increase in performance but generally speaking dual channel is "better" for bandwidth

 

[Stonesoldier]

whats the best way to test/benchmark the memory so that i can see if there is a performance gain/loss?

biggest systems hits would be battlefield 2142 , DVD burning/recodeing & Photoshop for photo archiving

 

[imported_wired247]

prepare to take this post with a grain of salt.....

but dual channel memory barely gives you a performance boost in most practical applications.

I believe this to be true based on benchmarks I've seen on tom's hardware.

I would throw the extra stick in there, dual channel mode be damned

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: wired247
prepare to take this post with a grain of salt.....

but dual channel memory barely gives you a performance boost in most practical applications.

I believe this to be true based on benchmarks I've seen on tom's hardware.

I would throw the extra stick in there, dual channel mode be damned

it hold more weight for the AMD setup the OP is on due to the integrated memory controller - another one of the main reasons that tighter timings actually played a roll in system performance

OP - really the best bench you'll find is doing a before / after / and revert back to original testing

I've had to do that several times on different things - but my next question would be does that "extra" 512 stick you just got run the tight timings the gig kit does?

Give it a few runs trying out stuff you usually run - I say do a fresh reboot & run one of your regular programs (or a few) and after swapping out memory do the exact same process again

all the synthetic benchies don't add up to how your system "feels" to you

 

[CU]

I am in the same boat. I have got 1x512meg and 2x256meg sticks that I am going to add to my system. I am debating on adding the 2x256meg for a total of 1.5gig or adding a 256meg and a 512meg for a total of 1.75gig. The extra stick will be placed in an old box that I don't really care much about. I usually play SupCom, so I need to test and find out if the little bit of extra ram will make a difference or not.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: Stonesoldier
whats the best way to test/benchmark the memory so that i can see if there is a performance gain/loss?

biggest systems hits would be battlefield 2142 , DVD burning/recodeing & Photoshop for photo archiving

Sandra Lite for memory benchmark

 

[Stonesoldier]

well i tried to install the extra stick of memory

no luck
my system completely rejected it
NO BOOT with it installed

my installed memory is KHX3200AK2/1GR
kingston hyperX 2x512 dual channel kit CL2
the other stick is a single channel 512 cl3 made by nanya
never heard of them ( out of a dead eMachine )

i guess there not compatible

Thanks for the advice

 

[CU]

Did you try using the lowest timings? Also will the stick work by itself in your machine?

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: CU
Did you try using the lowest timings? Also will the stick work by itself in your machine?

I tried to ask that in one of my prior posts - I'd suggest you reset the CMOS and try booting at CAS3 with possibly adding a little extra juice depending on the need of that kingston hyperx you have

 

[Stonesoldier]

tried useing the stick alone - worked fine

tried to mix n match all 3 sticks to work -no luck

cleared memory timings - set all to auto - again no luck - played with settings -no luck
voltage at 2.6 and no luck with all 3 sticks installed

actual timing of the dual channel is 2-3-2-6-1 ( went to kingston to look it up )

tried to look up the nanya memory - actual part number isnt on there site anywhere
closest thing says its timeings are 3-3-3 cl 3
generic crap pulled from an eMachine

oh well into the extra parts cabinet it goes

 

[n7]

As was mentioned, you need to set everything to CAS 3.
Setting things to auto isn't going to help.

Install the Kingston kit, set timings to 3-3-3, & then reboot to apply settings.
Shut down, & install the third dimm.

If this is done correctly (as long as the dimms are put in the correct slots for your planned config), it should work.
Check your manual to determine which slots to put each dimm.
There's usually a diagram explaining how to put dual channels kits in certain slots & single dimms in another, etc.

 

[Yellowbeard]

I seriously doubt that the VIA chipset based MOBO is going to allow you to boot with 3 modules. IIRC, it recommends against 3 modules in the manua.l

 

[ZoNtO]

Originally posted by: wired247
prepare to take this post with a grain of salt.....

but dual channel memory barely gives you a performance boost in most practical applications.

I believe this to be true based on benchmarks I've seen on tom's hardware.

I would throw the extra stick in there, dual channel mode be damned

Simply enabling dual channel memory on my Intel DG33tl gave me an increase from 5.2 to 5.7. I'll take that for moving a stick over one DIMM slot due to my installation ignorance!!!