Dual Channel Memory???

[Smokin Joe]

Somebody do a 101 on me. I know nothing about it or what it does!

Smoke

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

It basically allows the cpu and/or memory controller (AMD memory controller is in the cpu, Intel is on an external northbridge) to address two different memory banks at one time rather than one at a time thus doubling your memory performance (of course in real world applications this is hardly the case) The AMD64 gets about a 5% boost in performance from "dual channel" over single channel but more recent benchmarks that stress the memory subsystem I have seen higher boosts. The P4 gets a greater boost from dual channel due to it needing higher bandwidth.

You have to have two dimms (preferably the exact same model and frequency) for dual channel to work obviously. This is a drawback for some people because it can cost more money. One dimm for can be used in a dual channel setup but there will be a big performance penalty (especially on the P4)

 

[Smokin Joe]

Thanks Michael, I do have two sticks of 512 DDR400 PC3200 with the exact same Kingston part number but they are different in appearance. Wouldn't even boot with both in the "A Channel"--moved =the new one to "B Channel" and it works fine. I don't really see any boost at all. (both are in the DIMM 0 slots.

It is a P4 3.2 processor on an Intel D865GBF motherboard.

Smoke