Single vs. Dual Channel Memory?

[saabman]

Been out of the PC building game for awhile since P3 systems and 133MHZ RAM. Now I have a few questions about RAM I hope to get some answers on.

My Jetway mATX AMD socket 754 MB (nvidia 6100/410 chipset) says the following:
-Single Channel DDR400 Memory DIMMs
-2 * 184-pin DIMM Sockets for unbuffered DDR 400 SDRAM up to 2 GB

I have a 2GB kit (2*1GB DIMMs) of Corsair TwinX XMS RAM (CMX1024-3200) coming.

1) I think this Corsair XMS is considered Dual-Channel, correct?

2) Is it Dual Channel because of the memory chips on both sides of the RAM's PCB?

3) Will this Dual Channel RAM work just fine in this Jetway MB?
(My plan is to only use a single 1GB stick)

Thanks.

 

[Tarrant64]

Well if your motherboard only supports single channel, then that's all you will get from those memory sticks. Dual Channel means that those two memory sticks will be able to use...double the bandwidth. I am a little burned out at work at the moment so I can't even term that right. lol. More data can be moved with Dual Channel than Single Channel. Depending on setup and processor though, you won't really feel the effects.

Good choice on memory btw, maybe a bit expensive though considering some other cheaper options. If you want top performance though...I guess that works.

1) yeah I believe so
2) See above
3) Yes, the memory will work just fine with your Jetway.

 

[Itchrelief]

Dual channel is a property of the memory controller, not the memory itself.

Dual channel memory is just more precisely matched in terms of specs so that it is almost guaranteed to work in dual channel mode IF the memory controller supports dual channel.

You could buy two random memory sticks not specifically marketed as dual channel and have them work in dual channel mode.

edit:
And yes, because dual channel memory is not really inherently different, it should work just fine, as long as it otherwise meets the specs of your motherboard.

 

[elmadre]

so whats the the pro's and con's of each type?

saying your mobo and ram can support dual channel. my is the p5wdh delux and the memory i have to use is g-skill 2gb 2x1gb ddr2 800 444-12(f2-6400phu2-2gbhz)

is their a loss in total capasity?
as in double the frontage for half the depth, as i am trying to imaging this as a geometry, if thats possible?

madre

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: elmadre
so whats the the pro's and con's of each type?

saying your mobo and ram can support dual channel. my is the p5wdh delux and the memory i have to use is g-skill 2gb 2x1gb ddr2 800 444-12(f2-6400phu2-2gbhz)

is their a loss in total capasity?
as in double the frontage for half the depth, as i am trying to imaging this as a geometry, if thats possible?

madre

As mentioned above, dual channel is not a function of memory. The RAM does not care if dual channel is used or not. It is the memory controller (motherboard\processor) that says what's what.

There is no loss of capacity. 2x1GB is still 2GB when used as dual channel or single channel. The only difference is that in dual channel effectively both memory modules are being used at the same time. Kind of like striping in RAID.

 

[elmadre]

thanks for clearing me up on that mday.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Controller is the determining factor as already stated. Mem only has to be fast enough to do the trick. All DDR (Double Data Rate) mem is capable. Mem is read twice during a memory read cycle, once on the rising edge of the read pulse and once on the falling edge. Same with writing.

Hope this helps a bit, Jim

 

[ForumMaster]

well, socket 754 never supported dual channel memory. the good news is that you can use that memory on another system. bad news? everybody is going DDR2. if you decide to upgrade to s939 for example, the ram will work in dual channel mode. single or dual channel is decided by the memory controller. the ram will work fine.