newbie Dual Channel question

[Berg]

I bought some cheap Rosemill RW400 a while back when i built my computer for 30 bucks. The memory timings are really low 3-4-4 but on rosemill's site they sell a dual channal kit with 2 sticks of RW400 512 or 1g and they run at 2.5-3-3 which is decent. I was just wondering to run Dual channel do u need to buy a "dual channal kit" as all the dual channel ram says? Or can u run it with just another stick of the same ram? I have a k8n neo4 plat and a 3500+ Venice. I am asking this because for most ram if you buy 2 sticks of 512 seperately, its alot cheaper the the 2x512 dual channel kit for the same ram.

 

[ixelion]

You dont need the kits, you can get to sticks and run them in dual channel, however there is no garantee that they will. With dual channel kits, you can be 100% sure that they will run in dual channel.

 

[Berg]

are kits an actual item or is it the term that deems the ram 100% capable.

 

[VTHodge]

Originally posted by: Berg
are kits an actual item or is it the term that deems the ram 100% capable.

Last one I bought (Kingston 2x512, from Outpost) was two retail packages in a double box. Same RAM as if you bought them seperately, but in a two stick package.

 

[hertz9753]

Kits are an actual item. They usually come from the same manufacturing run and are
guaranteed to run together in dual channel mode. Another stick of the same memory you are using should work if the newer stick still has the same timings and voltage.