I have two sticks of 256MB, Is it ok to add 1x512mb?

[reflekt]

whats up guys,


I have a question, and i searched this forum forever, and didnt seem to find an answer.



Basically, My computer came with 512MB of ram, 2 sticks of PC2700 256MB RAM. So , before I

really started to learn more about computers and stuff, I already bought one stick of PC2700

512MB RAM.



When I installed the ram,.. My dimm slots go, 0, 1, 2, 3



ININITIALLY, when my computer came stock, there was one stick of 256MB in dimm slot 0, and the other

256mb stick in dimm 2. So when I installed the 1x512mb stick, I moved the 256mb stick to slot DIMM slot 1,

and put the 512mb stick in DIMM slot 2.



so my RAM Module order is



1x256MB | 1x256MB ||||| 1x512MB | EMPTY



My computer ran fine after the install, recognizing the 1024MB of RAM. However, I was getting some crappy

3DMark2001 scores with my ATI X800 Pro, averaging about 17,500. Then I started to investigate some more

and seemed to find that Having my RAM setup the way it was, is not a good idea. So I took out the 512MB

stick and put the 256mb stick back to where it was, initially stock. and then i ran 3DMark2001 again, and my

score raised up with only 512MB of RAM. Which sort of shocked me. How is my 512mb stick causing

a bottleneck for me? I understand 3DMark2001 is very CPU intensive. On 3DMark03 however, i score 9,800, due

mostly to my X800 Pro.



Quick specs of my computer:

P4 HT 3.0ghz

800mhz fsb (200mhz fsb x 4)

160gb Harddrive

ATI X800 Pro 256mb

2 Sticks of 256mb PC2700 + 1 Stick of 512mb PC2700





SOO...now to my question (haha).

1) I'm wondering, how should I setup my 3 stick of RAM? (2x256 & 1x512mb) in terms of where I put them in,

which DIMM slots.

2) Also, I've been considering to just sell these ram sticks and get 2 sticks of 512MB PC3200 ram. But of course,

If i can just get around that by configuring my PC2700 RAM sticks right now, that'd be better.



Working with 3 RAM sticks, Whats teh best way to set them up?


Oh, and here is a Compare page for 3DMark2001,
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7855105
showing the specs on my comp, setup with just the two 256mb sticks (without the 1x512mb)
I'm just using 3dmark2001, for now, to test my comp speed and performance.


Any help is appreciated! thanx.

 

[Keysplayr]

Sounds like when you had the 256's in slot 0 and slot 2, you were running the ram in Dual Channel mode. When you took the 256 and placed it in slot 1 and the 512 in slot 2 you disabled dual channel mode. This also depends on your motherboard model and chipset. You would have been better off just buying two more 256's and placed them in slots 1 and 3 to maintain dual channel mode. The new memory should have the same charectaristics as your original ram.. CL rating and such. PC2700. just make sure its the same.

 

[reflekt]

Ah ok. I got the whole jist of it now. Did a bit more researching , and the Guide on kingston.com really helped explain the whole Dual-Channel thing. Im' gonna go with two sticks of 512mb PC3200 RAM and dump these 2700's. Anyone wanna buy my 2700's? two sticks of Samsung 256MB PC2700 CL2.5. and one stick of PNY PC2700 512MB RAM CL 2.5

Thanx Keysplayer