dual channel memory config?

Ubergrendle · Jan 26, 2006, 09:45 PM

This might be a dumb question, but I can't get a solid answer after googling for 20 mins...

I've got an Asus A8V deluxe motherboard...I doubt this is relevant to the question however. I've got two paired banks for memory, total compliment of 4 DDR SIMMs. Right now, the first two banks are filled with paired 512mb 3200, running in dual-channel mode.

I'd like to add another pair of DDR simms, either 2x512 or 2x1024mb. To maintain dual-channel performance, do I only have to maintain the pairing of simms, or do all four banks have to be the same?

**temeteus82** · Jan 26, 2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubergrendle

or do all four banks have to be the same?

Yes they must !
But why not get one 2 gig kit?

Ubergrendle · Jan 27, 2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

Yes they must !
But why not get one 2 gig kit?

Mainly because i don't want to waste the 1gb of memory.

Matching up another 512 pair of Kingmax ram 18 mos later isn't going to be easy... buying a 2gb kit seems to be the way to go, except then i may as well just buy two 1gb simms and replace the first bank...

[hobo]eclipse · Jan 27, 2006, 05:00 AM

just runnin all four dimms might negate you to a 166\333 RAM speed or 2T command rate, if yer CPU core is a VENICE it might Fair a lil better.

Ubergrendle · Jan 27, 2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [hobo]eclipse

just runnin all four dimms might negate you to a 166\333 RAM speed or 2T command rate, if yer CPU core is a VENICE it might Fair a lil better.

So you're saying if I go all 4 banks full, then I default to 333mhz. This I kind of expected. Is this a performance hit ONTOP of loss of dual channel performance, or is it essentially the same thing?

I guess you need to evaluate whether a bigger pool of memory is a bigger benefit than better memory performance....

[hobo]eclipse · Jan 27, 2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubergrendle

So you're saying if I go all 4 banks full, then I default to 333mhz.

im pretty sure, cant say from experiance though, Four dimms might cause you 333 speed, the need for 2T, or both maybe, maybe it will only default to 333 instaed of what the ram is rated at, not to say u couldnt up the speed manually, but not sure how far u get, i kow there was an issue there and the newer Venice\SanDiego cores have an updated memory controller to fair better in these situation, (DIMMS completely full)

thats where the 2-1 gig stiks com in to play, 200\DDr400 and 1T command.

Jan 26, 2006, 09:45 PM	#1
Ubergrendle Semper ubi sub ubi Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 702 Rep Power: 51	dual channel memory config? This might be a dumb question, but I can't get a solid answer after googling for 20 mins... I've got an Asus A8V deluxe motherboard...I doubt this is relevant to the question however. I've got two paired banks for memory, total compliment of 4 DDR SIMMs. Right now, the first two banks are filled with paired 512mb 3200, running in dual-channel mode. I'd like to add another pair of DDR simms, either 2x512 or 2x1024mb. To maintain dual-channel performance, do I only have to maintain the pairing of simms, or do all four banks have to be the same? __________________ Veteran of the PC Microchannel / EISA wars of the late 1980s.

Jan 27, 2006, 05:00 AM	#4
[hobo]eclipse ...just bummin 'round Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,907 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	just runnin all four dimms might negate you to a 166\333 RAM speed or 2T command rate, if yer CPU core is a VENICE it might Fair a lil better.