question on dual channel ram

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by nate2005, Sep 8, 2006.

  1. nate2005

    nate2005 Regular member

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    hello everyone, im sorry if this has already been covered if it has I appoligize. Right now i have 2gigs of ram 2x 512mb and 1gb in my computer which is running single mode. my question is can I just have 4x 512mb givin me 2gb but if i would do that would that enable dual channel?? cuz i know on some motherboards if u do sumthen like that it will work well atleast i do believe. so if i do it that way would it kick it into dual channel?? if so would it be just as good or better than i have know?? considering i would have 4 512mb instead of what i have now. any info with this would be greatly appreciated. thanx
     
  2. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    4x512MB will run better than your current setup, and will allow Dual channel mode on some boards.
     
  3. BigDK

    BigDK Regular member

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    You also need to check the stepping of the CPU to see if it supports DDR400 with 4 memory slots used, older stepping CPUs will result in the memory running at DDR333 by default with 4 sticks, some boards will allow you to over-ride this by setting it back to DDR400 manually, some won't work if you try.
    Before stepping E0 (I think) the CPU onboard memory controller had this limitation.
    If you have this problem, then run 2 sticks max, if you need the extra capacity, then sell off the sticks and use the money to buy 2x1GB instead.
     
  4. elokito

    elokito Regular member

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    yeah 4*512 will run faster since the memory u have is transfering at 64bit and with dual channel it would b 128 bit = faster NOT 50% faster like 10-32% faster
     
  5. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Yeah I'd agree with that. Dual channel is indeed important. 2x1GB should technically run a bit better because of the latency issues with 4 sticks, but if you have 512s already, why not use them?
     
  6. nate2005

    nate2005 Regular member

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    ok thanx everyone that replied on this topic. I went ahead and put the 4x 512 sticks in its running in dual channel. What does stepping mean what are u talkin about with that term?? well what ever stepping is the number is 2 next to it. The only thing i noticed and this was even before i put all 512 sticks in my memory isnt running as fast as it should its only running at 198mhz what the heck?? why is it doin that? shouldnt it be running in 400mhz or atleast in 333mhz??
     
  7. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    DDR, being double data rate means it runs at 198mhx x2 = 396mhz. That's fine.

    Steppings are like "versions" of processors, they change over time as the processors are revised. They may be sold as the same item, but an earlier CPU will usually run similarly to a late revision one, but with regard to overclocking, they're completely different animals.
     
  8. BigDK

    BigDK Regular member

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    Its DDR memory Double Data Rate
    198x2 =396
     
  9. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Lool looks like we had the same idea!
     
  10. nate2005

    nate2005 Regular member

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    wow thanx for such the fast reply. so im fun now its all running good and everything?
     
  11. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    I would think so!
     
  12. nate2005

    nate2005 Regular member

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    sorry bout my horrible spelling im really tired lol ok well cool! Thanx everyone that helped me out on this thread and if one of you guyz would i just posted another thread a few mins ago maybe one of you guyz can go check it out and help me on that topic aswell. thanx again everyone
     
  13. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    OK you're welcome, I'll have a look.
     
  14. nate2005

    nate2005 Regular member

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    ok thanx the tittle of it is help is this a problem somthing like that is the tittle of my other thread
     
  15. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Reply made.
     

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