Installing new RAM

[TheBruce]

Quick rundown of my specs, even though i doubt they make a difference:

Athlon X2 4200+
eVGA GeForce 7800GS
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overv...del=939Dual-VSTA&s=939 <- motherboard
1GB of ram

I'm looking to upgrade to 2GB of RAM, and currently I have 4 RAM slots, two are blue and two are black. I have two 512MB sticks in the two blue slots, and i'm curious if you guys would know if they're blue for any reason, or if I can just stick another 1GB stick in the black slot.

Also, if I do so, can I still run in dual-channel with 3 sticks of ram? It's called DUAL, and I have 3, might be a stupid question though.

Much thanks.

 

[Quiksilver]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

Read. It will answer most of your questions.

For your 3 gig question, one set will run dual channel the other will run single.

 

[TheBruce]

Originally posted by: QuiksilverX1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

Read. It will answer most of your questions.

For your 3 gig question, one set will run dual channel the other will run single.

I asked one of my friends, and he said the exact same thing as you, so I went out to buy the ram. So now i've got two 512 sticks and a 1gig stick (the 512's are in the blue, the 1gig in the black alone), but my BIOS says i'm running in single-channel.

The guy at the store said i'd need to buy another 1gig stick, or trade in my 1gig for two 512's, but they'd be slightly lower quality 512s.

What's up?

 

[KIAman]

Unless that Asrock motherboard is different from other s939 motherboards, you have to put the 512mb sticks in slots 1 and 3, or 2 and 4 to run it dual channel.

 

[TheBruce]

Originally posted by: KIAman
Unless that Asrock motherboard is different from other s939 motherboards, you have to put the 512mb sticks in slots 1 and 3, or 2 and 4 to run it dual channel.

Are you entirely sure about that? click on the bigger picture of the motherboard I linked (its my exact one).

I had the two 512's in the first two slots before, and it ran in dual-channel.

 

[KIAman]

I admit I've never owned a ULI chipset motherboard but I have had plenty of other dual channel motherboards spread across 5 chipsets and they were all 1/3 and 2/4 for dual channel.

 

[Quiksilver]

According to the manual thats on that site for dual channel you need to stick the ram in the matched colors (aka 1 & 2 or 3 & 4).

Also according to the manual it says if your using 1 stick or 3 sticks of ram you will not be able to use dual channel. To use the dual channel you need 2 or 4 sticks its not entirely clear though.

 

[TheBruce]

Would it be more beneficial to trade in that 1gig for two 512's and then have it all in dual channel? The store I bought the RAM from said I could do that, but it'd be slightly lesser quality ram (same speed, but not as good a manufacturer).