Dual Channel RAM - more in channel 1 or 2? Does it matter?

[msmadilee]

Hello,

i understand how to set up dual channels with matching pairs - that is not my question. What i can't find the answer for is this:

If i have a matching pair of 512 = 1g
and a matching pair of 1g = 2g,..

Does it make a difference which pair is in which channel? Should i have 2g in channel 1 and 1g in channel 2, or would this make no difference?

thank you!!

Madilyn

 

[kbp]

Will not really matter but it will default to the slowest stick on timings. As cheep as RAM is right now why not just buy an upgrade?

 

[boochi]

You need 1.5GB in each channel to maintain dual channel configuration.

 

[Itchrelief]

You need 1.5GB in each channel to maintain dual channel configuration.

I don't think this is right? 😕

edit: I always matched sticks by the channel. 2x1gb in channel X and 2x0.5gb in channel Y, etc, like the OP described

edit2: But I do not believe it matters which channel the matched pair is in. If you put 2x0.5gb in channel X and 2x1gb in channel Y, it should work the same. IMO

 

[boochi]

I don't think this is right? 😕

edit: I always matched sticks by the channel. 2x1gb in channel X and 2x0.5gb in channel Y, etc, like the OP described

edit2: But I do not believe it matters which channel the matched pair is in. If you put 2x0.5gb in channel X and 2x1gb in channel Y, it should work the same. IMO

No, I am 100% right.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-011965.htm

If you put 2x1gb in channel A and 2x512mb in channel B the RAM will run in single channel. You need to have the same size configuration in each channel for dual channel to work.

 

[Dessert Tears]

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-011965.htm

If you put 2x1gb in channel A and 2x512mb in channel B the RAM will run in single channel. You need to have the same size configuration in each channel for dual channel to work.

boochi is correct, but I think there is confusion between channel and DIMM slot.

Restating the OP's question using the labels from the Intel page: does it matter if the 2x1GB or 2x512MB is in the DIMM 0 slots?

 

[boochi]

Put the 1GB sticks in Channel A Dimm 0 and Channel B Dimm 0. Then put the 512MB sticks in Channel A Dimm 1 and Channel B Dimm 1.

 

[Denithor]

Matching sticks go into matching color slots.

No, it doesn't matter which pair goes into which set of slots.

All memory will run at the speed of the lowest rated pair of sticks.

 

[razel]

You will need to read your motherboard or PC manual. Depending on your PC, RAM these days can run single, dual channel, and flex-mode making a lot of what's said previously all true, but may not be correct for your PC.

I just recently upgraded my workstation and EVEN with the manual, I still got it wrong the 1st time! 🙂