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Installing new RAM

T

TheBruce

Junior Member
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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