Memory configs on a socket 754 board?

[wraith3k]

I'm building a lower end Athlon 64 system for someone with a socket 754 board, and he wants one gig of memory. Since it doesn't do dual-channel, do you all recommend I just get one stick of 1024, or 2 sticks of 512? Also, since there are three dimm slots, can I start with two 512 sticks and add on a 1024 later? Or will this sacrifice stability?

 

[Machine350]

I would definitely go with 2 sticks of 512 just because one stick of 1024 is so much more expensive, the performance differences will be neglible. Also, yes you can have 2 sticks of 512 and later add a gig stick, there shouldn't be any problems as long as you stick with the same type, and even same company to assure compatibility.

 

[Peter]

Technically, the fewer RAM chips, the better for the signal integrity - meaning that aggressive timings are more likely to work.

However the price delta between 256- and 512-Mbit chips is still large, so that double-sided 512-MByte DIMMs made from the former are still considerably less expensive than 1-GByte or single-sided 512-MByte DIMMs made from the latter.

So today, I'd go with double-sided 512-MByte DIMMs, just for the price delta. Next week may be different ...

 

[storminnorm80]

I contacted Asus support about using all three DIMMS. I bought three sticks of DDR400 Corsair XMS3200 512MB and was hoping to use all three. The tech-rep said that I would be running PC1600 if I used all three slots, and suggested that two 512MB sticks would be enough, if I want to keep running at PC3200. So it looks like I have an "extra" stick of memory laying around. BTW, I wrote to Asus and they responded the next day, from Bejing China. Hope this helps.

Best Regards,
norm

 

[wraith3k]

thanks for the advice, I'll probably just start with two 512 sticks and run them at 400.

 

[Peter]

As I said in numerous other threads already, two double-sided DIMMs are way beyond what the PC3200 standard allows (one DIMM!). Your combination of board and DIMMs may or may not run at 200 MHz anyway - but I wouldn't bet on it.

Consider getting a socket-939 board and processor. These have two memory channels, which let you put one DIMM on each, staying within specification parameters of 200 MHz operation.

 

[wraith3k]

Originally posted by: Peter
As I said in numerous other threads already, two double-sided DIMMs are way beyond what the PC3200 standard allows (one DIMM!). Your combination of board and DIMMs may or may not run at 200 MHz anyway - but I wouldn't bet on it.

Consider getting a socket-939 board and processor. These have two memory channels, which let you put one DIMM on each, staying within specification parameters of 200 MHz operation.

Yeah, just trying to make it a budget system though..unless I can find a cheap socket 939 3000+ cpu somewhere.

 

[Peter]

Just you wait. Price drops are right around the corner.