Dual Channelling

[DJ LUCiTE]

Hey guys,

What exactly do you need to enable Dual-Channelling on a DualChannel-capable motherboard? I'm looking to see what I have to upgrade.

SysSpecs:

-AthXP 1800+
-512MB DDR333
-GeForce 6800 GT OC
-SBLive! X-Gamer 5.1

(Yes, i'm desparately in need of a CPU/RAM upgrade.)

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

2 Sticks of memory that are the same speed and preferably the same model from the same manuf

 

[DJ LUCiTE]

Really? I seem to can't get Dual Channel to work on my current system...is the FSB speed too low?
The sticks are from the same manufacturer, in fact, they're the exact same part number. Which slots should I put them in? Would that actually make a difference?
I've got three slots, 2 of them close together, closest to the CPU, and another one a little bit farther separated from the two first ones. Both my RAM sticks are in the slots that are close together, leaving the 'loner' slot empty. Also, they're labeled on the motherboard as "DDR1" and "DDR2".
ScreenCap of NVidia System Utility Info

 

[biostud]

you should put one of the sticks in the lone slot.

there's one channel for each "group" of memory slots

 

[DaveSimmons]

DC really only matters for XPs if using the onboard video, so don't put too much effort into making it work.

 

[joelslaw]

I have to disagree dave.
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...7&threadid=1424413

I have a question though, (and I think it is closely enough related so as not to be considered hijaking 🙂 ) do the 2 sticks HAVE TO BE the same size?

 

[montag451]

As similar as you can get them.

Same size, CAS, etc etc

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: DJ LUCiTE
What exactly do you need to enable Dual-Channelling

A Multi-Medium system, of course.

 

[joelslaw]

I understand it is better if they are, but do they HAVE TO BE the same size ... HAVE TO BE?

and larry: could you rephrase, i don't understand what you mean. (or where you talking to me? 🙂 )

 

[DJ LUCiTE]

Originally posted by: biostud
you should put one of the sticks in the lone slot.

there's one channel for each "group" of memory slots

Woohoo! That worked. Thanks a lot, dude.

 

[SofaKing]

Originally posted by: joelslaw
I understand it is better if they are, but do they HAVE TO BE the same size ... HAVE TO BE?

and larry: could you rephrase, i don't understand what you mean. (or where you talking to me? 🙂 )

same size AND same exact model and manufacturer. (although some boards work with 2 diff models, but yes it has to be the SAME SIZE)

 

[joelslaw]

thank you!, thats what I was looking for!

 

[DJ LUCiTE]

Heh. Cool. The funny thing is, one of my sticks was bad, and I bought a stick of PC2100, thinking it was my RAM speed. Duh. My RAM's supposed to run at 333MHz, not 266, but whatever. It was cheaper. So I try Dual-Channeling...knowing full well that they're completely different sticks...they're both 256 MBs, but different manufacturer, and even different speeds.

It works perfectly fine. The Mobo auto-underclocked the 333 stick to 266 to match the other stick, and Dual-Channeling works fine. Which means it's actually faster than my old single channel RAM running at 333MHz.
w00t.