Memory Capacity, Dual Channel, Configurations & Throughput?

[Gillbot]

Ok, i'm running a Biostar Tforce 6100-939 mobo and I notices something interesting today. I picked up another 1GB (2x512MB) of ram to add to my current 2GB (2x1GB). To ensure compatibility I ran memtest86+ v1.55 of course and everything passed ok in all configurations. Just the 2GB, Just the 1GB and the 3GB all together.

I did notice one thing that was rather weird though. If I run JUST two sticks regardless of confguration i get about 2100MB/s memory throughput but it actually DROPS to about 1800MB/s if I add another 2 sticks and fill all four slots. What gives?

Would it be worth it to stay with the 2GB and keep the extra throughput or is the extra volume better that that small gain in throughput?

[fabulouscoops]

Lots of mobos will force 2t memory timing with four sticks. You may be seeing the difference between 1t and 2t.

[Gillbot]

I saw that in the sticky and I believe it's running 2T all the time anyway, though i'm not as familiar with DDR as I was with plain old SDRAM. I may have to give it a try. Can even junk value ram handle 1T or is it more of a controller timing?

[Gillbot]

Setting it to 1T made no difference whatsoever.