What should I do?

[MAME]

I have a nforce2 ultra mobo (dual channel) and 2x 256 sticks of ram. I have 3 dimm slots but just got 2x 512 sticks.

I thought I would just use both 512 sticks and 1 256 stick, but reading online it suggested that I stick with ONLY the 512 sticks. Otherwise dual channel will be negated or something to that effect.

Is it ideal to use 3 sticks or just the 2 512 sticks?



using a Shuttle AN35N motherboard

 

[CalvinHobbes]

IMO, the two 512's are the way to go.

 

[Blain]

Use the two 512 sticks and save or sell the 256 sticks.

 

[bowserjs]

use the 2 512's

 

[airfoil]

I'm not sure if using all 3 DIMMs will result in the frequency lowered to DDR333 on that chipset - you'd want to check on that.

I suggest you use the 2x512 sticks and sell the 2x256 sticks.

 

[MAME]

2x512 it is, thanks

 

[ohnnyj]

What motherboard are you using?

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: ohnnyj
What motherboard are you using?

using a Shuttle AN35N motherboard

 

[MAME]

mmm yeah

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: ohnnyj
What motherboard are you using?

using a Shuttle AN35N motherboard

Just making sure the board supported dual channel, which it does. So as others have said, use the two sticks of 512.

Why?

1. I usually don't like mixing brands. Could be different timings, speeds, etc. And each manufacturer may not always have the best memory. Plus I have seen many problems with bad memory, especially generic modules.

2. Having three lends to potential system instability as all three dimms are populated and most motherboards don't like this.

3. Goodbye dual channel.

4. 1.2GB is not that much better if at all than 1GB. You won't notice a difference. In fact there will be a more noticable difference in losing dual channel.

Just my $0.02.

 

[MAME]

Originally posted by: ohnnyj

Originally posted by: MAME

Originally posted by: ohnnyj
What motherboard are you using?

using a Shuttle AN35N motherboard

Just making sure the board supported dual channel, which it does. So as others have said, use the two sticks of 512.

Why?

1. I usually don't like mixing brands. Could be different timings, speeds, etc. And each manufacturer may not always have the best memory. Plus I have seen many problems with bad memory, especially generic modules.

2. Having three lends to potential system instability as all three dimms are populated and most motherboards don't like this.

3. Goodbye dual channel.

4. 1.2GB is not that much better if at all than 1GB. You won't notice a difference. In fact there will be a more noticable difference in losing dual channel.

Just my $0.02.

that's what I was thinking as well, thanks