Question about Dual Channel.

[mashobo1]

I'm currently using two sticks of PC3200 256 RAM, giving me 512 MB total in Dual Channel mode. My mobo has three slots so if I add a third stick (512 MB PC3200), will my dual channel be affected? Will I be running in Single Channel then?

I'm currently deciding on whether to buy a pack of 2x512 or just another 512 stick, ultimately totaling my RAM to 1 GB.

Thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: mashobo1
I'm currently using two sticks of PC3200 256 RAM, giving me 512 MB total in Dual Channel mode. My mobo has three slots so if I add a third stick (512 MB PC3200), will my dual channel be affected? Will I be running in Single Channel then?

I'm currently deciding on whether to buy a pack of 2x512 or just another 512 stick, ultimately totaling my RAM to 1 GB.

Thanks.

Welcome to the Forums mashobo1 What motherboard do you have?

 

[mashobo1]

A7N8X Deluxe

 

[mechBgon]

Being an nForce2 Ultra400 board, the A7N8X Deluxe will run dual-channel with three modules. They don't have to add up in any specific way or be in any specific slots, either, as counter-intuitive as that may seem. So all your options are open here. I ran mine dual-channel with three 512's for a while before upgrading to Athlon64.

 

[mashobo1]

Thank you! That's a great relief since I don't have to take out my other ones . Thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

Sure thing

 

[imported_whatever]

although it works with it unbalanced, you will get the best performance with the two 256MB modules in one channel and the 512MB in the other, as otherwise, it only really acts dual-channel up to using 512MB of ram, and acts like single-channel past that.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: whatever
although it works with it unbalanced, you will get the best performance with the two 256MB modules in one channel and the 512MB in the other, as otherwise, it only really acts dual-channel up to using 512MB of ram, and acts like single-channel past that.

I don't think it matters in reality. pspada did some tests with two 256's plus a 512 in UT2003 Demo Botmatch, where you'd expect to see real-world differences show up. Results: out-of-balance configuration worked actually a hair better, although the difference was inconsequential. So I wouldn't worry too much

 

[mashobo1]

One more quick question. What is the Organization of RAM, as in the specs on Newegg?

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-420&depa=0

This RAM has:
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: mashobo1
One more quick question. What is the Organization of RAM, as in the specs on Newegg?

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-420&depa=0

This RAM has:
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit

That would mean that the module's memory IC's have a total of sixty-four 64-megabit cells in them. The organization won't be an issue for nForce2 regardless of what it happens to be, though. That module happens to be precisely what I used three of, on my own A7N8X Deluxe, except mine were black