Dual Channel RAM

  • Thread starter Thread starter Graham
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G

Graham

I am buying a motherboard that supports dual channel RAM. Should I buy 2
256M DDR DIMMs to utilise this or just a single 512M one.

Thanks, Graham
 
I would definitely go for the 2x256 or if you can afford it, why not go for
2x512, as 1 stick would obviously not work as dual.

Make sure you read the motherboard manual, as to what slots to put the DDR
in, as most have 2 black, and 2 blue slots alternate for running Dual
Channel

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i`d get 512mb now, and 512mb at a later date. unless you can afford 2x
512mb's in 1 go.

i`m running 2x 256mb pc3200 sticks and it's one of the biggest undersight
i`ve made.

from what i`ve read on the winXP newsgroup (iirc) then unlike previous win9x
versions, winXP can & will use >512mb. to get the most out of winXP you need
more than 512mb. ofcourse, i`ve seen no figures with winxp and >512mb, but
like this group, you tend to believe what someone posts.

tim
 
I am buying a motherboard that supports dual channel RAM. Should I buy 2
256M DDR DIMMs to utilise this or just a single 512M one.
Click to expand...

I would go for the 512MB stick now, and update at a later date.
Because you know you're gonna want more ram later.

The effect of dual channel memory isn't anything to write home about.
Yes it's a little faster, but not so much you're gonna notice unless
you sit running benchmarks all day!
 
Graham said:
I am buying a motherboard that supports dual channel RAM. Should I buy 2
256M DDR DIMMs to utilise this or just a single 512M one.

Thanks, Graham
Click to expand...
You must have 2 sticks of RAM to utilise the dual channel mode.
 
I am buying a motherboard that supports dual channel RAM. Should I buy 2
256M DDR DIMMs to utilise this or just a single 512M one.
Click to expand...


If you are certain you'll never need more than 1gb of RAM in the future, go
with a matched pair of 256mb. With RAM prices so cheap, you can get a
matched pair of 512's for $175-200. If you go 1x512mb now and buy another
512mb stick later you won't have a matched pair even if the model #'s are
identical, and that might not prove to be a compatible arrangement. RAM
mfr's are marketing matched pairs for dual-channel applications.

If you aren't doing digital-image or video editing you may never need more
than 1gb of RAM. Of course Bill Gates once said that 64k was plenty, so
nothing is etched in stone.
 
A single 512MB stick will run as single channel. Two MATCHED sticks of 256MB
will run dual channel. You cannot just buy two sticks of 256MB RAM and be
assured of dual channel operation. They have to be IDENTICAL, meaning
tested together by the manufacturer.
 
DaveW said:
A single 512MB stick will run as single channel. Two MATCHED sticks of 256MB
will run dual channel. You cannot just buy two sticks of 256MB RAM and be
assured of dual channel operation. They have to be IDENTICAL, meaning
tested together by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

It hasn't seemed to be a problem for me.



Roger
 
DaveW said:
A single 512MB stick will run as single channel.
Correct.

Two MATCHED sticks of 256MB
will run dual channel.
Correct.

You cannot just buy two sticks of 256MB RAM and be
assured of dual channel operation. They have to be IDENTICAL, meaning
tested together by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Incorrect. While you might not be assured, as long as the ram is the same
type
(e.g., single sided or double sided, or the same product number), then their
should not be a problem running in dual channel mode. With the last 3 dual
channel enabled computers I've built, I have encountered zero problems when
simply buying two of the same, unmatched sticks from the same manufacturer.

Dave Hull
 
I don't know, I'm using 2x256mb pc3200 with XP and the speed is great. I
can't see myself needing a gb of memory, but it's nice to have the option.
But I would recommend 512mb as the minimum for XP no matter what the
mobo/cpu/memory configuration.
 
If you ever play very memory hungry games or do lots of visual processing, a
GB of memory is nice. Postal2 and SWG spring to mind. Saw a major
difference between 512MB and 1GB of memory. For
non-gaming/non-video,graphic editing use, 512MB should be plenty.

-
Curt stood up at show-n-tell, in
[email protected], and said:
 
DaveW said:
A single 512MB stick will run as single channel. Two MATCHED sticks of 256MB
will run dual channel. You cannot just buy two sticks of 256MB RAM and be
assured of dual channel operation. They have to be IDENTICAL, meaning
tested together by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Before I bought my latest matched pair of PC2700 512MB sticks I had 2
PC2100 256MB sticks One by Crucial and one by Kingston. These worked fine
in dual channel mode.

I agree from what I read and hear that a matched pair is the best way to
guarantee this but from my experience it is not essential. I only bothered
as I needed 1GB for all the printing and PhotoShop work I do so I got it
all at once.

Andy
 
DaveW said:
A single 512MB stick will run as single channel. Two MATCHED sticks of 256MB
will run dual channel. You cannot just buy two sticks of 256MB RAM and be
assured of dual channel operation. They have to be IDENTICAL, meaning
tested together by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Damn, I hope this isn't true. I just ordered four 512 PC2100 ECC modules.
They're from the same vendor and manufacturer, but I have no idea whether
they've actually been tested together!
 
-
Pack Fan stood up at show-n-tell, in (e-mail address removed), and
said:
Damn, I hope this isn't true. I just ordered four 512 PC2100 ECC
modules. They're from the same vendor and manufacturer, but I have no
idea whether they've actually been tested together!
Click to expand...

Don't worry. It's not true.
 
Pack Fan said:
Damn, I hope this isn't true. I just ordered four 512 PC2100 ECC modules.
They're from the same vendor and manufacturer, but I have no idea whether
they've actually been tested together!
Click to expand...

Don't worry, they should work.
They need to be the same size, speed, and type.
It's better to get the same manufacturer, and at the same time, but not
absolutely critical.

Manufacturers are making this myth.
They take two $50 sticks, test them, and sell the "matched set" for $200.
I had one system running dual mode with a Samsung stick mixed with a
Kingston (same size, type, etc)


John
 
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