Which dual channel RAM?

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 18:26:29 GMT, Vormulac
<tristanluscombe DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote:

 >I am planning to upgrade the ram in my A7n8x-deluxe by going for a 1Gb
 >matched pair, in order to make use of the dual channel capability of this
 >board. Does anyone have any recommendations for what ram to use? I've got
 >about £150 to throw at this.

Crucial always works well for me, and is well priced.
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 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

Hi Doug,

Thanks for your reply. So do you have all three slots filled and it's still
making use of the dual channel? Interesting!
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

Vormulac wrote:
 > Hi Doug,
 >
 > Thanks for your reply. So do you have all three slots filled and it's
 > still making use of the dual channel? Interesting!

Well... there's RAM in both channels... why not?

Ben
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 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

"Vormulac" <tristanluscombe.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote

 > I am planning to upgrade the ram in my A7n8x-deluxe by going for a 1Gb
 > matched pair, in order to make use of the dual channel capability of this
 > board. Does anyone have any recommendations for what ram to use? I've got
 > about £150 to throw at this.

Had 2x 512 MB Infineon ram running in dual channel mode, but the system
crashed every two minutes. Changed it to Samsung, which are on the list of
Asus' "qualified vendors" and the system runs stable like hell (eMule,
gaming whatever for days).

Never would use memory which is not on the qualified vendors list again.

Hinnerk<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

Vormulac wrote:
 >
 > Hi all,
 >
 > I am planning to upgrade the ram in my A7n8x-deluxe by going for a 1Gb
 > matched pair, in order to make use of the dual channel capability of this
 > board. Does anyone have any recommendations for what ram to use? I've got
 > about £150 to throw at this.
 > Speaking of which, does ayone have any experience of Geil ram, particularly
 > the Golden Dragon pairs?
 >
 > Thanks all.

I'm getting great mild OC performance out of my 3200 hynix memory 6 3 3 2

Gordon<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

"Vormulac" <tristanluscombe.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns949DEAF2B7785tristanluscombehotma@194.117.133.134...
 > Hi Doug,
 >
 > Thanks for your reply. So do you have all three slots filled and it's
still
 > making use of the dual channel? Interesting!

Yes, but one must distinguish between "slots" and "channels" - they are not
interchangeable.

Slots (sockets) 1 & 2 = Channel 1
Slot (socket) 3 = Channel 2

So for 2 sticks of RAM, you can use slot 1 or 2 for a stick, and slot 3 for
the other stick. But NOT slots 1 and 2.

For 3 sticks of RAM ( e.g. 2 x 256Mb and 1 x 512Mb), the 2 x 256Mb should be
in slots 1 & 2, and the 512Mb stick in slot 3.

See page 14 of the manual for details.
--
Doug Ramage<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 11:36:03 -0000, "Doug Ramage"
<namxat666.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:

 >
 >"Vormulac" <tristanluscombe.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 >news:Xns949DEAF2B7785tristanluscombehotma@194.117.133.134...
  >> Hi Doug,
  >>
  >> Thanks for your reply. So do you have all three slots filled and it's
 >still
  >> making use of the dual channel? Interesting!
 >
 >Yes, but one must distinguish between "slots" and "channels" - they are not
 >interchangeable.
 >
 >Slots (sockets) 1 & 2 = Channel 1
 >Slot (socket) 3 = Channel 2
 >
 >So for 2 sticks of RAM, you can use slot 1 or 2 for a stick, and slot 3 for
 >the other stick. But NOT slots 1 and 2.
 >
 >For 3 sticks of RAM ( e.g. 2 x 256Mb and 1 x 512Mb), the 2 x 256Mb should be
 >in slots 1 & 2, and the 512Mb stick in slot 3.
 >
 >See page 14 of the manual for details.

Would 3x256 make it slower then? Hmmmm I've tested 2x256 and 3x256 in
dual CH modes, as far as benchmarks go there was no difference at all.

Ed<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

In the manual for my P4C800-E Deluxe it states: "DIMM's installed in any
three sockets will function in single-channel mode." It's true that you
don't necessarily need a matched pair to run in dual-channel mode, because
the characteristics of the sticks may be close enough to function in
dual-channel, but they MUST be installed in pairs. One pair and a single
stick by itself doesn't qualify for that...

"Doug Ramage" <namxat666 DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c1qog3$1lebkl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
 >
 > "Vormulac" <tristanluscombe DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:Xns949DBBB694DCFtristanluscombehotma@194.117.133.134...

 >
 > I have had this mobo for nearly a year, and you don't need a "matched"
pair
 > to run dual channel.
 >
 > I have 2 x256Mb PC3200 plus 1 x 512Mb PC3200 - both TwinMOS. You just need
 > to remember to put them in the correct slots.
 > --
 > Doug Ramage
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

"Deathwish" <tgeswein.TakeThisOut@woh.rr.com> wrote in message
news:b4m0c.1300$G63.47@fe3.columbus.rr.com...
 > In the manual for my P4C800-E Deluxe it states: "DIMM's installed in any
 > three sockets will function in single-channel mode." It's true that you
 > don't necessarily need a matched pair to run in dual-channel mode, because
 > the characteristics of the sticks may be close enough to function in
 > dual-channel, but they MUST be installed in pairs. One pair and a single
 > stick by itself doesn't qualify for that...
 >

A related question..... Would there be a better performance gain running in
single channel mode with 3 sticks of ram (1 gig total) or a matched pair
running in dual channel mode (512mb total). Winxp Pro is the operating
system.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

Deathwish wrote:
 > In the manual for my P4C800-E Deluxe it states: "DIMM's installed in any
 > three sockets will function in single-channel mode." It's true that you
 > don't necessarily need a matched pair to run in dual-channel mode, because
 > the characteristics of the sticks may be close enough to function in
 > dual-channel, but they MUST be installed in pairs. One pair and a single
 > stick by itself doesn't qualify for that...

I missed the beginning of this thread.

From what I understand, you are correct.

With the nForce chipset, you can use 3 DIMMs and get Dual Channel.

Ben
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 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

Hi Doug,

Thanks for clearing that up for me, and thanks to everyone for their input.

All the best.
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

"Guardian" <kguardianNOSPAM.RemoveThis@hamptonroads.com> wrote in message
news:MOn0c.19679$UU.16245@lakeread01...
 >
 > "Deathwish" <tgeswein.RemoveThis@woh.rr.com> wrote in message
 > news:b4m0c.1300$G63.47@fe3.columbus.rr.com...
  > > In the manual for my P4C800-E Deluxe it states: "DIMM's installed in
any
  > > three sockets will function in single-channel mode." It's true that you
  > > don't necessarily need a matched pair to run in dual-channel mode,
because
  > > the characteristics of the sticks may be close enough to function in
  > > dual-channel, but they MUST be installed in pairs. One pair and a
single
  > > stick by itself doesn't qualify for that...
  > >
 >
 > A related question..... Would there be a better performance gain running
in
 > single channel mode with 3 sticks of ram (1 gig total) or a matched pair
 > running in dual channel mode (512mb total). Winxp Pro is the operating
 > system.
 >
 >

I would be most surprised if there was a significant difference - as both
would be in dual channel mode. Also, dual channel mode does not make much
difference anyway - probably a max of 5%?
--
Doug Ramage<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM? 

In article <b4m0c.1300$G63.47@fe3.columbus.rr.com>, "Deathwish"
<tgeswein.TakeThisOut@woh.rr.com> wrote:

 > In the manual for my P4C800-E Deluxe it states: "DIMM's installed in any
 > three sockets will function in single-channel mode." It's true that you
 > don't necessarily need a matched pair to run in dual-channel mode, because
 > the characteristics of the sticks may be close enough to function in
 > dual-channel, but they MUST be installed in pairs. One pair and a single
 > stick by itself doesn't qualify for that...

There are subtle differences between Intel and AMD chipsets and
processors.

1) The Pentium processor has a 64bit data bus and transfers data four
times per bus clock cycle. This is a better match for two DIMMs
that transfer data twice per memory clock cycle. In memtest86, I
see a 30% difference between single and dual channel modes.
2) The Athlon processor has a 64bit data bus and transfers data twice
per bus clock cycle. The Athlon is a match for the bandwidth coming
from 1 DDR Dimm. As people can attest to here, running dual channel
gives you a 5% improvement.

3) The 875/865 Northbridge chips DRAM controller operates a matched
pair of DIMMs positioned in the correct sockets only, as an
"Uber DIMM". The two DIMMs appear to be 128 bits wide and they
receive the exact same command at the exact same time. When
DIMMs are not placed in this particular configuration, the
controller reverts to running DIMMs individually, at 64 bits
transfer from each (so-called virtual single channel). Three
DIMMs cannot operate in dual channel mode.
4) The Nforce2 Northbridge memory controller has three separate
address/control busses. Matching to get dual channel operation
is relaxed, compared to the Intel implementation. The controller
alternates between the two channels, so as long as the amount of
memory on each channel is equal (i.e. 2x256 on one channel, 1x512
on the other), the chipset can do dual channel.

It isn't safe to compare the two product lines directly, as they are
worlds apart. So, one person's comments about their Pentium experience
may not be appropriate for another person's Athlon problem, and vice
versa.

HTH,
Paul

 >
 > "Doug Ramage" <namxat666.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:c1qog3$1lebkl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
  > >
  > > "Vormulac" <tristanluscombe.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
  > > news:Xns949DBBB694DCFtristanluscombehotma@194.117.133.134...
 >
  > >
  > > I have had this mobo for nearly a year, and you don't need a "matched"
 > pair
  > > to run dual channel.
  > >
  > > I have 2 x256Mb PC3200 plus 1 x 512Mb PC3200 - both TwinMOS. You just need
  > > to remember to put them in the correct slots.
  > > --
  > > Doug Ramage
  > >
  > ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Which dual channel RAM?