Hey, guys. How's it going? I recently got a stick of PC 3200 512MB DDR SDRAM (400 MHZ) for my 3 year old Dell - P4 2.8 Ghz. I have a couple sticks of 256MB in as well and it immediately reverted to single channel mode when I popped that 512 in. Otherwise, everything else is fine: BIOS shows 1024 MB DDR SDRAM running @ 400MHZ. My question is actually twofold. First, is there any way I can configure the 3 sticks of memory in the slots so that I can get dual channel mode? And, second question: is there really any added benefit of dual channel over single channel? I'm not much of a gamer; I basically run Photoshop, Powerpoint, watch MPEGs on the computer, etc. Thanks for your help, guys! The stick of memory is returnable within 2 weeks (I got it from Office Depot), so I still have about a week left.
Hi dokiroku, This PC3200 DDR RAM is a 64-bit memory chip. When the memory is connected in so-called Dual Channel mode, it is accessed via 128-bit data pathway. This doubles the theoretical memory bandwidth from 3200MB/s to 6.4GB/s. Ideally, you would yank out the 2 x 256MB and replace them with 2 x 1024MB. Or, you could introduce 2 x 512MB sticks and run 1536MB in 128-bit mode. With 4 RAM sticks, however, an extra 'tic' is added to your latency timings (adding delay), and often PC3200 support will fallback to PC2700 speed. PC2700 in 128-bit mode will still offer 5.4GB/s bandwidth, as opposed to 3.2GB/s in single-channel mode - but some folks would rather have smaller FAST memory and not lots and lots of slower... Anyway, you now have 1GB at PC3200 speed (64-bit). You can get your second channel (128-bit) back again, with another 512MB stick - but will lose timings and possibly overall speed. Also, running four mis-matched sticks is an unlikely dual-channel setup - ideally, both (or all four) sticks would be matched, or at least have identical SPDs. The very best course (if planning to use the PC for a while) would be to retire the 256s and purchase 2 x 1GB. The 256s are pretty worthless; they are ~$25 bucks each. I can get 512s for $45 and 1GB for $95 bucks - clearly, the 512s are in the 'sweet-spot' price-wise right now (but 1GB sticks have become inexpensive). dokiroku, don't fool around with memory - if your rig becomes unstable ('haunted') you will be upset and frustrated, and unsure how to back away... I recommend 2 x 1024MB top-quality PC3200 from a major manufacturer like Corsair or OCZ. Return the 512 and sell the 256s, Regards
The_OGS, wow! Thanks for the great info. That 512MB stick (PNY) only cost $20 w/the rebate, but I don't wanna run into any problems in the future. I don't plan on getting rid of this computer anytime soon, so I'll definitely be taking your advice and returning that PNY stick. Any idea how I could go about selling those sticks of 256MB? How much do you figure I'd get?
Wow, that's inexpensive for 512MB - or what? I'm up here in Canada but that price is practically 'free' LoL :^) Instead of sending your one stick back, maybe order a second one? 2 x 512 is good, and it is the 256's that become really more problem than they're worth. But if 2 x 512MB won't do you, go right for the 2 x 1GB... Either way, the 256's must go! Without knowing your motherboard details or whatever, you could try 2 x 256 plus 2 x 512 and set it all up in BIOS properly, and it might run just fine with the 1.5GB total - but don't count on it. You can run CPU-Z and learn about your CPU speed, caches, memory speed and what is contained in the memory's SPD (its capabilities): http://www.filepedia.com/desktop_software/other_tools/cpu-z.cfm Hey if you can get 512's for $20 bucks, what are the 256's worth? Sell 'em maybe for $15 bucks or 2 for $25 or whatever you can get... L8R
The_OGS, maybe I can buy a few more of those 512s and send up North! Well, I already took that 512 back so I'll put my 256s up for sale. Thanks again for all the helpful info.
Hey, This thread instrests me. So i recently built a comp with 2 x 512mb Corair Dual channel. And 2 x 512mb which im not sure of the make but pretty sure are the same as they have unmarked stickers in exactly the same place. Would theratically it be best to get rid of one of thoose unamed 512mb sticks? Also i have not really felt ive got as much as i can out of this computer because something is holding me back. Could this be it? Lecsiy
The_OGS, I've a question. If I insert one stick of 1GB RAM into my computer, will it run in single channel mode or dual channel? I think the answer is single channel, but I'm not sure. Thanks!
you need two sticks of ram to run in dual mode 'dual= two' unless you are overclocking, two ordinary sticks will run ok beside two corsair as dual and you will not notice the difference edit 'each pair has to match themselves'
