I have 3 x 512 sticks of ram, can I run Dual-Channel and still use the 3rd ram stick?

[LowTeck]

-I have a mobo w/ 3 RAM slots.
-I have 2 x OCZ 512mb PC3200 ram (2 identical sticks)
-I have 1 x OCZ 512mb PC3200 ram

Question:
I wish to setup the 2 identical sticks with dual-channel, but still use the remaining 3rd in my system. Does the configuration of these three sticks matter? I read I need to put the 2 used for dual-channel in slots 2 and 3, can anyone confirm?

Thanks.

EDIT: I suppose the easiest way to find out would be to simply try it out, but I was simply wondering if it was possible.

 

[wseyller]

Using an odd number of ram slots will not allow you to run dual channel

 

[LowTeck]

In that case...What would be a good tool to benchmark which configuration is better; either only using 2 sticks in dual-channel (1gig of RAM total) or using all 3 sticks and no dual-channel, but having 1.5gigs of RAM total.

could 3DMark do it?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I'm willing to bet that if you're using a Windows OS, 2 sticks/ 1GB/ Dual Channel will be slightly faster.

It really depends on how you use the computer. Most common stuff, you won't even see a difference. Synthetic benchmarks aren't all that anyway.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: LowTeck
In that case...What would be a good tool to benchmark which configuration is better; either only using 2 sticks in dual-channel (1gig of RAM total) or using all 3 sticks and no dual-channel, but having 1.5gigs of RAM total.

could 3DMark do it?

Try SiSoft Sandra 2005.

 

[Fern]

What mobo?

If it's an NF2 mobo, yes DC will work with 3 sticks, but it will be an unbalanced DC configuration.

Fern

 

[theMan]

look in your manual, some mobos dont want 3 sticks, either 1,2,or 4

 

[vailr]

Originally posted by: LowTeck
I read I need to put the 2 used for dual-channel in slots 2 and 3, can anyone confirm?

For dual-channel, you occupy either: slots 1 & 3, or else 2 & 4. Usually, motherboards have alternating colors for 4 slot memory; you should occupy 2 of the same color.
"CPU-Z" http://www.cpuid.org/cpuz.php can tell you whether "performance mode" (dual channel) is enabled or not, when adding in a 3rd stick of memory.

 

[Ike0069]

If you have a S939 CPU, you can't use 3 sticks. It either won't post, or it will only recognize 2 sticks.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1552742&enterthread=y

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

You really don't need 1.5GB of RAM unless u do lots of photo/video editing or stuff like that.

 

[Jiggz]

Personally, the difference of using Dual channel or single channel is not that of a big deal. Although, DC performs about 10% better compare to SC, this can be compensated with increase in RAM. Of course this depends on what you use your system for.

 

[wseyller]

I'd say the P4s benefit from DC more than it would an amd64