RAM Placement

[Daniel]

Hi
I have a P5SD2-X motherboard with 2 x1 gig and 1 x 512 Meg RAM.
What would be the best RAM placement for gaming?

1 x 1 Gig each in slots A1 and A2 and 1 x 512 in slot B1
or
1 x 1 Gig in A1, 1 x 1 Gig in B1 and 1 x 512 in A2

thanks

Daniel

 

[Joel]

Hi
I have a P5SD2-X motherboard with 2 x1 gig and 1 x 512 Meg RAM.
What would be the best RAM placement for gaming?

"The best RAM" is the one works with your momboard

1 x 1 Gig each in slots A1 and A2 and 1 x 512 in slot B1
or
1 x 1 Gig in A1, 1 x 1 Gig in B1 and 1 x 512 in A2

I am having seeing the picture you try to draw here.

1. Do you want to install 2.5GB to your system?

2. Do you want to install 1.5GB on your system?

3. Do you already have all those RAM or planning to yet?

And you better check to see the limiation of your momboard like

- MAX memory

- Max number of memory card can be installed

- Max memory it accepts etc..

Example, my momboard except up to 4GB of memory *but* it will only accept
no more than 4 (I dunno what to call it so see below for explaination)

1Gx2 = count as TWO (or it acts as (2) 512MB)
1Gx1 = count as ONE
2Gx1 = count as ONE

 

[John Smith]

Check your installation manual. I think you have to populate the memory
slots evenly, i.e. 1gb in A1 & B1 and then you would need another 512mb to
populate A2 & B2.
John

 

[Daniel]

"The best RAM" is the one works with your momboard


I am having seeing the picture you try to draw here.

1. Do you want to install 2.5GB to your system?

Yes I do

2. Do you want to install 1.5GB on your system?

No! 2.5 Gig

3. Do you already have all those RAM or planning to yet?

I have them

And you better check to see the limiation of your momboard like
- MAX memory 4 Gig
- Max number of memory card can be installed 4
- Max memory it accepts etc.. 4Gig
Example, my momboard except up to 4GB of memory *but* it will only accept
no more than 4 (I dunno what to call it so see below for explaination)

1Gx2 = count as TWO (or it acts as (2) 512MB)
1Gx1 = count as ONE
2Gx1 = count as ONE

thanks
Daniel

 

[Daniel]

John

I think you are rught bit I have the extra 512,
if I install it into A2 will it hurt?

cheers

Daniel

 

[Joel]

Yes I do


No! 2.5 Gig


I have them

If you already have them then there won't be neither "the best" nor "the
worst" but just stick those suckers to memory slots and go from there.

I hope everything will work out ok for you, and if not then just try to
install one (set) at a time to find out what may cause problem.

 

[~misfit~]

Somewhere on the interweb "Daniel" typed:

John

I think you are rught bit I have the extra 512,
if I install it into A2 will it hurt?

It depends what you push it in with, or if anything sensitive gets caught in
the slot....

Seriously though, I swear people think that some of us here have nothing
better to do than run around after them answering simple questions that,
with very little time, they could answer themsleves. Open your browser, then
cut'n paste (or copy) the below URL into the address field and hit <Enter>:

<http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/P5SD2-X/E2026_P5SD2-X.pdf>

You should find the information you require there. (Hint: The answer you
need is on page 28. I'm not doing everything for you, read it. In fact, save
it or print it out.)

FYI I typed "P5SD2-X download" into Google and found the manual within 20
seconds. Longer than it took me to write this post. This took several
minutes of my precious life that I'm never going to get back. When I'm dying
I'll probably look back on this with regret, wishing I had these few minutes
back again....

 

[Paul]

Somewhere on the interweb "Daniel" typed:

It depends what you push it in with, or if anything sensitive gets caught in
the slot....

Seriously though, I swear people think that some of us here have nothing
better to do than run around after them answering simple questions that,
with very little time, they could answer themsleves. Open your browser, then
cut'n paste (or copy) the below URL into the address field and hit <Enter>:

<http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/P5SD2-X/E2026_P5SD2-X.pdf>

You should find the information you require there. (Hint: The answer you
need is on page 28. I'm not doing everything for you, read it. In fact, save
it or print it out.)

FYI I typed "P5SD2-X download" into Google and found the manual within 20
seconds. Longer than it took me to write this post. This took several
minutes of my precious life that I'm never going to get back. When I'm dying
I'll probably look back on this with regret, wishing I had these few minutes
back again....

<sigh>

The manual says, for optimum performance A1 + A2 = B1 + B2. If you violate
that rule, by using an unbalanced RAM configuration, the board would run
in single channel mode. That means a reduction in memory bandwidth. If
it was my board, I'd use 2x1GB in A1 and B1, and I'd leave the 512MB
stick in my desk drawer.

Paul

 

[~misfit~]

Somewhere on the interweb "Paul" typed:

The manual says, for optimum performance A1 + A2 = B1 + B2. If you
violate that rule, by using an unbalanced RAM configuration, the
board would run in single channel mode. That means a reduction in
memory bandwidth. If it was my board, I'd use 2x1GB in A1 and B1, and I'd
leave the 512MB
stick in my desk drawer.

If it were my board I would too. However, I don't edit several files in
Photoshop at once or use my machine for similar memory-intensive tasks where
size is more important than speed. However, if I were gaming (as the OP
intimated in his OP) then I'd do as you suggest. Different strokes and all
that. Hence my providing of the location of the relevant info and allowing
the OP to decide for himself. I try to encourage people to think for
themselves. In modern society everyone wants it on a plate, yesterday,
without having earned it.

These kids have got to grow up and start looking after themselves one day
Paul, they can't live at home forever.
--
TTFN

Shaun.

 

[~misfit~]

Somewhere on the interweb "Paul" typed:

The manual says, for optimum performance A1 + A2 = B1 + B2. If you
violate that rule, by using an unbalanced RAM configuration, the
board would run in single channel mode. That means a reduction in
memory bandwidth. If it was my board, I'd use 2x1GB in A1 and B1, and I'd
leave the 512MB
stick in my desk drawer.

Damn cheap'n nasty SiS chipsets. I've just checked the manual <gasp> for my
new mobo and it says that... Errrr, hang on, I'll quote:

"You may install varying memory sizes in challel A and channel B. The system
then maps the total size of the smaller sized channel for dual channel
configuration. Any excess memory from the larger sized channel is then
mapped for single channel operation."

Sounds like you *can* eat your cake and have it.

Intel P35 Northbridge.

 

[Paul]

Damn cheap'n nasty SiS chipsets. I've just checked the manual <gasp> for my
new mobo and it says that... Errrr, hang on, I'll quote:

"You may install varying memory sizes in challel A and channel B. The system
then maps the total size of the smaller sized channel for dual channel
configuration. Any excess memory from the larger sized channel is then
mapped for single channel operation."

Sounds like you *can* eat your cake and have it.

Intel P35 Northbridge.

From the P35 datasheet (31696602.pdf page 352):

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/316966.htm

*******
The system memory controller supports three memory organization modes, Single
Channel, Dual Channel Symmetric, and Dual Channel Asymmetric.

Single Channel Mode

In this mode, all memory cycles are directed to a single channel. Single channel mode
is used when either Channel A or Channel B DIMMs are populated in any order, but
not both.

Dual Channel Symmetric Mode

This mode provides maximum performance on real applications. Addresses are pingponged
between the channels after each cache line (64 byte boundary). If there are
two requests, and the second request is to an address on the opposite channel from
the first, that request can be sent before data from the first request has returned. If
two consecutive cache lines are requested, both may be retrieved simultaneously,
since they are ensured to be on opposite channels.

Dual channel symmetric mode is used when both Channel A and Channel B DIMMs are
populated in any order with the total amount of memory in each channel being the
same, but the DRAM device technology and width may vary from one channel to the
other.

Dual Channel Asymmetric Mode with Intel Flex Memory Mode Enabled

This mode trades performance for system design flexibility. Unlike the previous mode,
addresses start in channel 0 and stay there until the end of the highest rank in
channel 0, and then addresses continue from the bottom of channel 1 to the top.
Normal applications are unlikely to make requests that alternate between addresses
that are on opposite channels with this memory organization; so, in most cases,
bandwidth will be limited to that of a single channel.

Dual channel asymmetric mode is used when both Channel A and Channel B DIMMs
are populated in any order with the total amount of memory in each channel being
different.
*******

That doesn't sound like an exact match for your manual's description. That still
sounds like an "A1 + A2 = B1 + B2 for dual channel" type chipset.

If you want to test it on your board, there is a way to do that. I modified
memtest86+, to test an nforce2 config consisting of 3x512MB, and you could
do the same for your P35, if you have an odd assortment of memory. The code
I added is specific to the amount of RAM, so the code has to be modified for
the test configuration. (I didn't waste time adding code to automate the
setup.)

http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/browse_frm/thread/27e23db56f02cbf2

Paul

 

[~misfit~]

Somewhere on the interweb "Paul" typed:

From the P35 datasheet (31696602.pdf page 352):

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/316966.htm

*******
The system memory controller supports three memory organization
modes, Single Channel, Dual Channel Symmetric, and Dual Channel
Asymmetric.

Single Channel Mode

In this mode, all memory cycles are directed to a single channel.
Single channel mode is used when either Channel A or Channel B DIMMs
are populated in any order, but not both.

Dual Channel Symmetric Mode

This mode provides maximum performance on real applications.
Addresses are pingponged between the channels after each cache line
(64 byte boundary). If there are two requests, and the second request is
to an address on the opposite
channel from the first, that request can be sent before data from the
first
request has returned. If two consecutive cache lines are requested,
both may be retrieved simultaneously, since they are ensured to be on
opposite channels.

Dual channel symmetric mode is used when both Channel A and Channel B
DIMMs are populated in any order with the total amount of memory in
each channel being the same, but the DRAM device technology and width may
vary from one
channel to the other.

Dual Channel Asymmetric Mode with Intel Flex Memory Mode Enabled

This mode trades performance for system design flexibility. Unlike
the previous mode, addresses start in channel 0 and stay there until
the end of the highest rank in channel 0, and then addresses continue
from the bottom of channel 1 to the top. Normal applications are unlikely
to make requests that alternate
between addresses that are on opposite channels with this memory
organization; so, in most cases, bandwidth will be limited to that of
a single channel.
Dual channel asymmetric mode is used when both Channel A and Channel
B DIMMs are populated in any order with the total amount of memory in each
channel being different.
*******

That doesn't sound like an exact match for your manual's description.
That still sounds like an "A1 + A2 = B1 + B2 for dual channel" type
chipset.
If you want to test it on your board, there is a way to do that. I
modified memtest86+, to test an nforce2 config consisting of 3x512MB,
and you could do the same for your P35, if you have an odd assortment of
memory.
The code I added is specific to the amount of RAM, so the code has to be
modified for the test configuration. (I didn't waste time adding code to
automate
the setup.)

http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/browse_frm/thread/27e23db56f02cbf2

Hmmm, interesting. However, this is my first DDR2 board and I only have 2 x
1GB modules so am unable to test.

Cheers,

Shaun.

 

[~misfit~]

From the P35 datasheet (31696602.pdf page 352):

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/316966.htm

*******
The system memory controller supports three memory organization
modes, Single Channel, Dual Channel Symmetric, and Dual Channel
Asymmetric.

Single Channel Mode

In this mode, all memory cycles are directed to a single channel.
Single channel mode is used when either Channel A or Channel B DIMMs
are populated in any order, but not both.

Dual Channel Symmetric Mode

This mode provides maximum performance on real applications.
Addresses are pingponged between the channels after each cache line
(64 byte boundary). If there are two requests, and the second request is
to an address on the opposite
channel from the first, that request can be sent before data from the
first
request has returned. If two consecutive cache lines are requested,
both may be retrieved simultaneously, since they are ensured to be on
opposite channels.

Dual channel symmetric mode is used when both Channel A and Channel B
DIMMs are populated in any order with the total amount of memory in
each channel being the same, but the DRAM device technology and width may
vary from one
channel to the other.

Dual Channel Asymmetric Mode with Intel Flex Memory Mode Enabled

This mode trades performance for system design flexibility. Unlike
the previous mode, addresses start in channel 0 and stay there until
the end of the highest rank in channel 0, and then addresses continue
from the bottom of channel 1 to the top. Normal applications are unlikely
to make requests that alternate
between addresses that are on opposite channels with this memory
organization; so, in most cases, bandwidth will be limited to that of
a single channel.
Dual channel asymmetric mode is used when both Channel A and Channel
B DIMMs are populated in any order with the total amount of memory in each
channel being different.
*******

That doesn't sound like an exact match for your manual's description.
That still sounds like an "A1 + A2 = B1 + B2 for dual channel" type
chipset.
If you want to test it on your board, there is a way to do that. I
modified memtest86+, to test an nforce2 config consisting of 3x512MB,
and you could do the same for your P35, if you have an odd assortment of
memory.
The code I added is specific to the amount of RAM, so the code has to be
modified for the test configuration. (I didn't waste time adding code to
automate
the setup.)

http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/browse_frm/thread/27e23db56f02cbf2

Paul

I thought I replied to this already but I don't see it...

I don't have any spare DDR2 RAM, all I have is installed, 2 x 1GB modules.
Maybe it's something Asus have done to the P35? On the box it says "Asus
Super Memspeed Technology enhances memory speed by up to 75%"