Memory Questions

[Bona Fide]

I was wondering if it's possible to run two separate RAM sticks in dual-channel mode, even if they aren't "configured" for dual-channel. If I place them into alternate slots on the mobo, will it automatically recognize them as dual-channel? Or is there something I can do to set them up as DC? Because buying two separate 512MB sticks is cheaper than buying a 2x512MB dual-channel set. If it still works...then why not?

Also...does Value RAM automatically get lower speeds than more expensive RAM? I was thinking of getting the OCZ Value set and putting on some aftermarket ramsinks. Would I be able to overclock it decently?

 

[imported_wyrmrider]

Dear Bona
you can run two (and by separate I think you mean different)
both of these are pc 3200 or pc 2700? or one of each?- how mismatched are we talking about?
I'd try and boot up with one stick then set the bios for the lowest sticks settings
then install the second stick and fo for it
or go ahead ane get the ocz value or crucial value vx
ixnay on the heatsinks ue a fan if you need to
the value ram will not affect your oc- read the stickies at the top of the forum
you will not save much by buying sepeartely
if both are "same" but individual just ignore the above- stick in and go
if you can id the sticks and they match all numbers you are good to go - but why risk it
in either case one stick can perform better than the other
you would have to burn in then push them to find oc on each
big difference? RMA one
little difference and or within specs 🙂
quite frankly you are going to want to run these sticks at spd timing with a divider
it does not pay to oc the sticks with looser timings (except in very rare cases and with a lot of work and benchmarking)
and NO it's not automatic
the expensive ram buys you NOTHING unless you go through the whole overclocking drill- see above
and then it buys you very little (with a few exceptions)
money is USUALLY better spent elsewher i.e. video if you are a gamer, Raptor, etc

 

[Bona Fide]

Thanks for the thorough response 🙂

They aren't different, they are just individual 512MB sticks. They don't ship in a pair like most dual-channel sets. If you really want to know, here they are.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227037

And you're saying skip the heatsinks? Won't that lower my clocking potential? And even if I don't overclock, these sticks are running at 2.5-3-3-7 timings. EXTREMELY slow. I figured a heatsink would let me tighten the timings a bit. I probably won't get 2-2-2 but anything can be better than the current. If what you're saying is right, I'll probably run them at stock speeds and try to tighten the timings. A pair of these will come to $80, plus the cost of heatsinks. Versus $130 for the OCZ 2x512MB Dual-Channel set. That $50 can go toward something else.

 

[peleejosh]

Dont get the heatsinks, you wont get any tighter timings by using heatsinks. They might increase your overclock a little, if you have a fan blowing on them, because you would be able to give more voltage. Oh and if you mean heatspreaders, definately dont get them. Heatspreaders suck. I take them off of my bh-5 to increase overclock. Dual channel sets are a marketing ploy. 2 sticks of the same brand with the same timings will run in dual channel whether you buy them in a "Dual Channel" set or not.

 

[Bona Fide]

Gotcha...sorry I meant heatspreaders, the things you clip onto your RAM sticks so that heat dissapates more efficiently. If they don't allow for tighter timings, will I forever be stuck with 2.5-3-3-7 timings? Or can Value RAM be tightened regardless of heatspreaders and whatnot?

 

[TGS]

Do not put stock on the majority of heatspreaders on ram. Most times the interface material is only partial covering the memory modules. Others it's barely even affixed to them.

I skeptical about all but perhaps corsairs baked on spreaders, though I'm not sure there is enough material to make any reall thermal difference, more so than using a fan blowing air across uncovered dimms.

 

[peleejosh]

think of it as putting a really large blanket on. It increases your surface area, but it aslo traps a ton of heat underneath.

 

[TGS]

You could say the same about heatsinks. Though the typical cpu heatsink has enough mass to conduct the heat away, and use forced convection to push/suck away the heated air.

Seeing as how for modern microprocessors passive heatsinks tend to fall under the category of Ginormous. When you look at the flimsy materials on memory, you can almost with certainty say, uncovered dimms and a small fan would work a lot better for a cooling solution. The spreader method seems to be cheaper, more aesthically pleasing, less prone to breakage.