Single channel ? dual Channel ? CONFUSED!

[ahmedaf]

I got an abit A7NX8 delux nforce 2 mobo.

I got 1 stick of 512mb pc3200 ram...when the pc boots up it says memory running at 200mhz in single channel mode


my question is..would 2 sticks of 256mb pc3200 run in dual channel mode and be faster than one stick of 512mb pc3200 in single channel mode ???

Sorry if im confusing you guys too

 

[Viper96720]

Should be faster the path the info to and from memory is larger with dual channel. Single channel would be sort of like a one lane road dual channel is two lanes. Not exactly but
something like that.

 

[FearoftheNight]

u mean asus a7n8x? and dual is a little faster...

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
u mean asus a7n8x? and dual is a little faster...

Dual channel is a little faster, such that you'll only notice it in benchmarks, or if you're doing some memory-intensive task that takes days (then you may save an hour). IMHO, it's more worthwhile to use one 512MB module to allow a wider upgrade path for future needs.

 

[ahmedaf]

thanks guys.

 

[Duvie]

It is a little faster on AMD systems and the real advantage can come from ppl who get boards with onboard video...The reason is the amd processor dual pumped has a lower amount of theoretical bandwidth. Therefore when the cpu and ram are ran in synch they are a perfect fit. Hence why many don't run the memory asynch with AMD systems casue the cpu is bandwidth limited. IE no sense running saya 1600+ 266fsb with pc2700 memory unless you raise the fsb of the chips to 166fsb. The 266fsb processor has a theoretical bandwidth of 2.1gb/s and therefore is more mathced with a pc2100 stick of ram which also has a theoretical bandwidth maximum of 2.1gb/s. same problem happens with amd dual channel systems. the first stick ran in synch with the fsb and memory speed handle the needs of the processor. The 2nd stick basically handle the little amount the ram stick may not reach its maximum of 2.1gb/s.

AMD 266fsb chip = 2.1gb/s or (1) stick of pc2100
AMD 333fsb chip = 2.7gb/a or (1) stick of pc2700
AMD 400fsb chip = 3.2gb/s or (1) stick of pc3200 or theoretically (2) sticks of pc1600

Now with intel system the processors are quad pumped and have more bandwidth for the cpu.

P4 400fsb chip = 3.2gb/s which equals (1) pc3200 in single channel mode or (2) pc1600 sticks in dual channel
P4 533fsb chip = 4.2gb/s which equals (1) pc4200(533mhz ddr) in SC mode or (2) pc2100 sticks in DC mode
P4 800fsb chip = 6.4gb/s which equals no current DDR in single channel mode or (2) PC3200 sticks in DC mode.