DDR Question

"NuT CrAcKeR" <nutcracker.DeleteThis@internationalhacker.org> wrote in message
news:pfmdnXGEJszjPKXdRVn-ug@speakeasy.net...
 > I have a couple AMD boards that use DDR. I am seeing lots of 1GB Dual
 > ChannelDDR kits coming out from corsair, muskin, buffalo, etc...
 >
 > I understand that the dual channel is a system architecture thing, but my
 > question is really more along the lines of :
 >
 > Is there a real diff between a 512M chip from mushkin, and a 512M Dual
 > Channel stick from muskin that is used in a Dual Channel DDR setup?
 >
 > If not, is it just a packaging convenience? And if not, can I use one of
 > those marketing masterpieces in a standard board that doenst have Dual
 > Channel ? If there is some value to having a matched pair, or whatever, I
 > might go that route. for > 1GB memory setups.

It's mostly marketing. Yes, you want sticks that match, because otherwise
they will run at the slowest common denominator settings. But in this case,
"matching" only means sticks that use the same modules with the same
settings and characteristics.

The more and bigger sticks you use, the higher the odds you will need looser
timings because of the higher addressing overhead. Obviously a CAS 2 PC2700
stick and a CAS 3 PC4000 stick wouldn't be the best choice to run together
in an overclocked system.

But Crucial/Micron, one of the biggest and most trusted names in the biz,
doesn't sell pairs. You just buy two PC3200 sticks and they work in dual
channel. Period.

Buying a dual channel kit is basically paying for an insurance policy that
two sticks will work together. If you believe the manufacturer tests them as
a pair before sticking them in a plastic bubble and shipping them out the
door, I've got some choice riverfront property to sell you in the Great
Dismal Swamp.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: DDR Question 

"Skid" <skid2 RemoveThis @comcast.NOSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:524_b.367456$I06.3831226@attbi_s01...
 > "NuT CrAcKeR" <nutcracker RemoveThis @internationalhacker.org> wrote in message
 > news:pfmdnXGEJszjPKXdRVn-ug@speakeasy.net...
  > > I have a couple AMD boards that use DDR. I am seeing lots of 1GB Dual
  > > ChannelDDR kits coming out from corsair, muskin, buffalo, etc...
  > >
  > > I understand that the dual channel is a system architecture thing, but
my
  > > question is really more along the lines of :
  > >
  > > Is there a real diff between a 512M chip from mushkin, and a 512M Dual
  > > Channel stick from muskin that is used in a Dual Channel DDR setup?
  > >
  > > If not, is it just a packaging convenience? And if not, can I use one of
  > > those marketing masterpieces in a standard board that doenst have Dual
  > > Channel ? If there is some value to having a matched pair, or whatever,
I
  > > might go that route. for > 1GB memory setups.
 >
 > It's mostly marketing. Yes, you want sticks that match, because otherwise
 > they will run at the slowest common denominator settings. But in this
case,
 > "matching" only means sticks that use the same modules with the same
 > settings and characteristics.
 >
 > The more and bigger sticks you use, the higher the odds you will need
looser
 > timings because of the higher addressing overhead. Obviously a CAS 2
PC2700
 > stick and a CAS 3 PC4000 stick wouldn't be the best choice to run together
 > in an overclocked system.
 >
 > But Crucial/Micron, one of the biggest and most trusted names in the biz,
 > doesn't sell pairs. You just buy two PC3200 sticks and they work in dual
 > channel. Period.
 >
 > Buying a dual channel kit is basically paying for an insurance policy that
 > two sticks will work together. If you believe the manufacturer tests them
as
 > a pair before sticking them in a plastic bubble and shipping them out the
 > door, I've got some choice riverfront property to sell you in the Great
 > Dismal Swamp.
 >
 >
It depends of the brand. Some non-twin modules will work perfectly, even
overclocked, others will not. I've done a lot of tests, only with Corsair,
and twin modules do it really better in dual channel, especially when using
high cas settings or when PAT is enabled.
But bottom line, there is no difference in the manufacturing process. Just
testing and packaging for best fit at the end of the process.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: DDR Question 

ElJerid wrote:
 > It depends of the brand. Some non-twin modules will work perfectly,
 > even overclocked, others will not. I've done a lot of tests, only
 > with Corsair, and twin modules do it really better in dual channel,
 > especially when using high cas settings or when PAT is enabled.
 > But bottom line, there is no difference in the manufacturing process.
 > Just testing and packaging for best fit at the end of the process.

Hmmm i guess i was lucky... VERY lucky;-) When i upgraded to my DFI 875P
board, i still had 2 XMS-3000 modules in my PC. I managed to get these two
to run at 400 MHz, CAS 2.5, PAT enabled...

Thomas<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: DDR Question 

"Thomas" <thomas_ DeleteThis @lycos.nl> wrote in message
news:ka6_b.644361$_x2.1407845@zonnet-reader-1...
 > ElJerid wrote:
  > > It depends of the brand. Some non-twin modules will work perfectly,
  > > even overclocked, others will not. I've done a lot of tests, only
  > > with Corsair, and twin modules do it really better in dual channel,
  > > especially when using high cas settings or when PAT is enabled.
  > > But bottom line, there is no difference in the manufacturing process.
  > > Just testing and packaging for best fit at the end of the process.
 >
 > Hmmm i guess i was lucky... VERY lucky;-) When i upgraded to my DFI 875P
 > board, i still had 2 XMS-3000 modules in my PC. I managed to get these two
 > to run at 400 MHz, CAS 2.5, PAT enabled...
 >
 > Thomas
 >
 >
Never heard about XMS3000, so I suppose you mean (Corsair) XMS3200. Those
have a rated speed of 2x200 MHz at cas 2.5. As long as you don't overclock,
there is no reason why they shouldn't continue to run perfectly at the speed
you mention. But I'm practically sure you will have problems if you try cas2
or oc the fsb to 210 MHz (which is only 5%).
By the way, are you running at 400 MHz or 2 x 400 MHz (dual channel)? In
most cases, this depends of the slots where the modules are inserted, and if
you're running in single channel mode, the picture is totally different and
there is no "twin" concern at all.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: DDR Question 

ElJerid wrote:
  >> Hmmm i guess i was lucky... VERY lucky;-) When i upgraded to my DFI
  >> 875P board, i still had 2 XMS-3000 modules in my PC. I managed to
  >> get these two to run at 400 MHz, CAS 2.5, PAT enabled...
  >>
 > Never heard about XMS3000, so I suppose you mean (Corsair) XMS3200.
 > Those have a rated speed of 2x200 MHz at cas 2.5. As long as you
 > don't overclock, there is no reason why they shouldn't continue to
 > run perfectly at the speed you mention. But I'm practically sure you
 > will have problems if you try cas2 or oc the fsb to 210 MHz (which is
 > only 5%).
 > By the way, are you running at 400 MHz or 2 x 400 MHz (dual channel)?
 > In most cases, this depends of the slots where the modules are
 > inserted, and if you're running in single channel mode, the picture
 > is totally different and there is no "twin" concern at all.

Erm, not it IS XMS3000. It's like current PC3500; not really a standard,
just some O/C-friendly brands have it in stock SO, they are O/C modules
from the PC2700 days. They are actually identified as PC2700 inSandra and
such Hence, the surprise it does 200 MHz, at none too shabby timings, at
2.7 Volts.

ANd hmm, they were VERY expensive once And yes, dynamic dual channel
mode enabled, and in WCPUID i can see PAT enabled, even though my FSB is
running 250, mem at 200...

Thomas.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: DDR Question 

ElJerid wrote:
 > Never heard about XMS3000,

PS
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=75" target="_blank">http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=75</a>



Thomas<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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"Thomas" <thomas_ DeleteThis @lycos.nl> wrote in message
news:hu9_b.649706$_x2.1414129@zonnet-reader-1...
 > ElJerid wrote:
  > > Never heard about XMS3000,
 >
 > PS
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=75</font" target="_blank">http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=75</font</a>>
 >
 >
 >
 > Thomas
 >
 >
Right Thomas. I looked at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.Corsairmemory.com," target="_blank">www.Corsairmemory.com,</a> which is Corsair's official
site, and didn't see PC3000 in the product list. Probably those modules are
no longer manufactured?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: DDR Question 

ElJerid wrote:
   >>> Never heard about XMS3000,
  >>
<font color=green>  >> <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=75</font" target="_blank">http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=75</font</a>>
  >>
 > Right Thomas. I looked at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.Corsairmemory.com," target="_blank">www.Corsairmemory.com,</a> which is Corsair's
 > official site, and didn't see PC3000 in the product list. Probably
 > those modules are no longer manufactured?

Yup, old stuff.....

Thomas<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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