Quick A7N8X question

[compudog]

On my new Asus A7N8X board, which DIMM slots should be populated? I have two Corsair XMS (256) DIMMs, but the book doesn't explain too much about how the RAM should be installed. I have one DIMM in the black slot and 1 in the blue. I forget what review I read that said one of each color for Dual DDR and I just read another review that said the two blue ones for Dual DDR. What gives?

 

[renditionkid]

I do belive you must have 1 stick of RAM in the black slot and 1 stick in one of the blue slots for dual-channel to work. Either blue slot works fine.

 

[rondeemc]

One of each color is my understanding...

From Tom's article on the board

If you want to run double-channel mode, please insert at least two DIMMs into different banks - thanks to the different colors, this is pretty simple.

 

[compudog]

Thanks. But I'm still confused. I re-read a review HERE and it said the Asus manual recommends populating the "Blue" slots first. Frankly, my manual is not very clear. It states:

NOTE: To enhance system performance, utilize dual-channel feature when installing additional DIMMs. You may install the DIMMs in the follwing sequence: Sockets 1 and 3 or Sockets 2 and 3 or Sockets 1, 2 and 3.

I have 1 DIMM in socket 1 and 1 DIMM in socket 3. I don't think my RAM is running in Dual DDR mode. Performance is fantastic, and this is the best board (easiest to install and configure) that I have ever used.

 

[SFang]

Originally posted by: renditionkid
I do belive you must have 1 stick of RAM in the black slot and 1 stick in one of the blue slots for dual-channel to work. Either blue slot works fine.

This information is NOT correct. Take a look from the manual here:

DIMM1: black DIMM2: blue DIMM3: blue

NOTE: To enhance system performance, utilize dual-channel feature when installing additional DIMMs. You may install the DIMMs in the follwing sequence: Sockets 1 and 3 or Sockets 2 and 3 or Sockets 1, 2 and 3.

Which means, you must have any of the following three setup to take advantage of Double DDR

1:3 == black : blue
2:3 == blue : blue
1:2:3 == black : blue : blue

Be aware, 1:2 is black:blue, but it is NOT Double DDR. Hope this make it clear to you!

 

[SFang]

Thanks. But I'm still confused. I re-read a review HERE and it said the Asus manual recommends populating the "Blue" slots first.

Exactly! When I used DIMM 1:3, I can only get my PC2100 RAM stablized at FSB163, however, with DIMM 2:3(double blue), I managed to get my PC2100 RAM stablized at FSB166, which is PC2700!

Personally, I really like the double blue setup, which is the same exact reason why Toms hardware mentioned color make it simple. Just like IDE channel, go with blues first, then if you have a third RAM, put it into DIMM 1(black).

 

[compudog]

OK. Just to clarify. I should have the two stick of XMS in the 2 blue slots for D-DDR to work. Not socket 1 and socket 3 that I have now? What is confusing about the Asus manual...

NOTE: To enhance system performance, utilize dual-channel feature when installing additional DIMMs. You may install the DIMMs in the follwing sequence: Sockets 1 and 3 or Sockets 2 and 3 or Sockets 1, 2 and 3.

...is it states above that enhanced system performance utilizing dual-channel is the very last part "Sockets 1,2 and 3." Dual channel cannot work with three DIMMs. Anyway, what I'm going to do, is take the sticks of DDR and put them in the two blue slots and see how it affects things. If it is dual channel, super-I'm done, if not, back to square one.

BTW, this Asus board rocks! Dual channel or no dual channel...