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Dual Channel?
- Thread starter JPetrillo
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2004
- Location
- The White Forest
They would probably be referring to dual channel memory. Some boards support dual memory channels, some only a single channel. For instance on a dual channel board, if you want to run 1 GB of ram, it would be better to run 2 512 MB sticks instead of a single 1 GB stick, because the two sticks could take advantage of the dual channels.
- Thread Starter
- #3
That is kinda what I thought... but wasnt sure.
So I'm getting the ABIT NF7-S nForce2. It sys RAM: 3x DIMM for DDR333/266 Max 3GB, 2x DIMM for DDR400 Max 2GB - So It would be best to get DDR400 RAM and only use the two slots on the mobo and forget the 3rd is there and get something like 256MB*2 DDR400?
So I'm getting the ABIT NF7-S nForce2. It sys RAM: 3x DIMM for DDR333/266 Max 3GB, 2x DIMM for DDR400 Max 2GB - So It would be best to get DDR400 RAM and only use the two slots on the mobo and forget the 3rd is there and get something like 256MB*2 DDR400?
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2004
- Location
- Austin, MN ( we make SPAM here )
The speed increase of running in dual-channel mode is not huge. Instead of buying two 256 sticks now to run in dual-channel, I would buy one 512 stick now, save up some more money, then buy another 512 stick so you have 1GB in dual channel.
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2001
Dual channel memory access is available on Socket 940 and 939 based Athlon64s, some socket A chipsets, and some Intel chipsets.
The memory controller on these boards (or in the Athlon64s case, the CPUs memory controller) can access two sticks of RAM at the same time. Thus runniong two sticks of RAM in a dual channel supporting system will allow for a small increase in performance and memory bandwidth. This performance increase is around 10% usually afaik.
The memory controller on these boards (or in the Athlon64s case, the CPUs memory controller) can access two sticks of RAM at the same time. Thus runniong two sticks of RAM in a dual channel supporting system will allow for a small increase in performance and memory bandwidth. This performance increase is around 10% usually afaik.
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Location
- Wöschbach LMAO
well, it would be better to get 2*512MB 
but just get two similar sticks of ram (like you said 2*256).
on the NF7 S you need to use the first and the third DIMM slot for dual channel.
normal PC3200 ram has 3,2Gb/s maximum datarate, and with dual channel its 6,4Gb/s. Of course you'll only get about 70% of effective bandwidth: ~4,5Gb/s and the cpu can't use all of it, so like said above its about 10% advantage over single channel.
Maybe more maybe less.
But as I said in the first line.. if you could afford it you should really get 1Gb of ram 512Mb is almost too little for win xp to perform nicely.
but just get two similar sticks of ram (like you said 2*256).
on the NF7 S you need to use the first and the third DIMM slot for dual channel.
normal PC3200 ram has 3,2Gb/s maximum datarate, and with dual channel its 6,4Gb/s. Of course you'll only get about 70% of effective bandwidth: ~4,5Gb/s and the cpu can't use all of it, so like said above its about 10% advantage over single channel.
Maybe more maybe less.
But as I said in the first line.. if you could afford it you should really get 1Gb of ram 512Mb is almost too little for win xp to perform nicely.
- Thread Starter
- #8
Thanks guys. Yeah Lifthanger, I know 512 is kinda low, but I wanted to do dual channel and dont have the money to get 2 512's right now, so I'll have to either do what you said about 2 256's for now or just one 512 and then run dual channel once I get the 2nd 512.
So on that board the 3rd DIMM is seperate from the other 1st 2 DIMMS, to run dual channel I would use DIMM slot 1 and DIMM slot 2, so the one that is 1st and then the 3rd that is seperated from the other two, correct?
So on that board the 3rd DIMM is seperate from the other 1st 2 DIMMS, to run dual channel I would use DIMM slot 1 and DIMM slot 2, so the one that is 1st and then the 3rd that is seperated from the other two, correct?
- Thread Starter
- #9
The CPU + Mobo is only about $180.00 - I'll probably get 2 512's PC3200, now... what brand?! lol - I have good luck with Crucial, so I'll probably get that, but I've never really O/C'ed too much before, so maybe there are a couple better brands just in a O/C'ers eyes.
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- Oct 18, 2003
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- Leawood, KS
512 isnt low for WinXP to perform nicely. 512 is fine for most games now (except far cry, doom3, and future games). So i would buy 1gb for the future.
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
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- Wöschbach LMAO
If you could afford 2*512 just get them, if not take 1*512 and wait for the next.
you should use the first and the third dimm slot, leaving the one in the middle free. 1Gb gives a big performance increase for windows and most games, I know what I'm talking about, because I've just bought my second 512MB stick.
On the first day with 1GB I was just sitting there with mouth wide open. the money was very well spent.
you should use the first and the third dimm slot, leaving the one in the middle free. 1Gb gives a big performance increase for windows and most games, I know what I'm talking about, because I've just bought my second 512MB stick.
On the first day with 1GB I was just sitting there with mouth wide open. the money was very well spent.
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Location
- Wöschbach LMAO
you'll see if they are the right slots, at the post screen it says in bold letters: "Dual Channel enabled".
Wow at first you didn't want to spent the money to get a gig and now you've got a gig of high quality ram.. very nice.
Wow at first you didn't want to spent the money to get a gig and now you've got a gig of high quality ram.. very nice.
