A RAM Question

ExitiosuS · Mar 23, 2006, 07:23 PM

It has been awhile since the last time I upgraded to a better laptop, however... I've always used single-channelled RAM and never really noticed anything like a "bottleneck," though I'm not the most picky when it comes to slight slowdowns... I just unfortunately hit a point where I can't run games like Battlefield 2! haha

So, I put a 2k budget on my next laptop, and surprisingly... since I got my last laptop (2 years ago), I was impressed to see what I could get for less than what I paid last time... but now, things look rather French in regards to the RAM.

Here's the question, what exactly is dual-channelled RAM? The bus speed is 533MHz and the RAM speed is 533MHz, so wouldn't single-channelled RAM be just as good? Since the RAM speed isn't slower than the bus-speed? Or does it work like RAID 0?

Anyway, I'd like to apologize for such a newb question, as I believe the dual channel concept has been around since what? 2003?

Thanks for reading, hope to get a good answer.

swimtech · Mar 26, 2006, 02:29 AM

Dual Channel isn't a kind of ram, as Dual Channel is implemented using standard DDR or DDR2 ram modules that are matched by their electrical/timing/speed characteristics.

Basically, data to and from the memory modules in Single Channel configuration using DDR modules is moved in 64 bit chunks, and requires one memory module. Dual Channel configuration moves the data to and from the memory modules in 128 bit chunks and requires that two modules be used together in specific slots on the motherboard (similar to what mainboards using RDRAM required).

Mar 23, 2006, 07:23 PM	#1
ExitiosuS Simian Masterpiece! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ont. Canada Posts: 358 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	A RAM Question It has been awhile since the last time I upgraded to a better laptop, however... I've always used single-channelled RAM and never really noticed anything like a "bottleneck," though I'm not the most picky when it comes to slight slowdowns... I just unfortunately hit a point where I can't run games like Battlefield 2! haha So, I put a 2k budget on my next laptop, and surprisingly... since I got my last laptop (2 years ago), I was impressed to see what I could get for less than what I paid last time... but now, things look rather French in regards to the RAM. Here's the question, what exactly is dual-channelled RAM? The bus speed is 533MHz and the RAM speed is 533MHz, so wouldn't single-channelled RAM be just as good? Since the RAM speed isn't slower than the bus-speed? Or does it work like RAID 0? Anyway, I'd like to apologize for such a newb question, as I believe the dual channel concept has been around since what? 2003? Thanks for reading, hope to get a good answer.

Mar 26, 2006, 02:29 AM	#2
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Dual Channel isn't a kind of ram, as Dual Channel is implemented using standard DDR or DDR2 ram modules that are matched by their electrical/timing/speed characteristics. Basically, data to and from the memory modules in Single Channel configuration using DDR modules is moved in 64 bit chunks, and requires one memory module. Dual Channel configuration moves the data to and from the memory modules in 128 bit chunks and requires that two modules be used together in specific slots on the motherboard (similar to what mainboards using RDRAM required). __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.