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View Full Version : About dual channel on ddr2 ram motherboard.

Yuzrass
08-31-2007, 01:02 PM
Hi, guys. I got a question about RAM. My PC now has 2x512 DDR2 RAM and my mother board has 4 slot and support dual channel. So by default the dual channel is active for the 2x512 RAM of mine. I want to add another 1gb ram and was thinking would the dual channel active for the 2x512 RAM if I add just one 1gb RAM. Would the 1GB RAM cancel or overite the dual channel fuctionality of the 2x512 RAM just becoz I only add 1GB RAM and not pair?
Srek
08-31-2007, 01:45 PM
If you use an uneven number of RAM slots dual channel will be disabled for all memory.
All pairs of slots have to be used equaly. 2x512 + 2x512, or 2x512 + 2x0, or 2x512 + 2x1024.
Pairings like 2x512 + 1x1024 will not work with dual channels.
This should be described more thoroughly in the manual of your PC or Motherboard.
Cheers
Björn
Yuzrass
08-31-2007, 02:33 PM
Hey, thanks Srek. So that means I have to add a pair of 2x512 or 2x1gb. Hey do you happen to know how many RAM do the Win XP Pro Service Pack2 can take? I head a rumor that it can only go for up to 3GB. Is that true?
lots
08-31-2007, 05:52 PM
It also depends on your motherboard. Some motherboards support dual channel as long as both channels have the same amount of RAM in them. Even if its spread across an odd number of sticks. For example, 2x512 on channel A and 1x1GB on channel B, would work.

Its best to view your motherboard manual for specifics though
Geta-Ve
09-01-2007, 09:14 AM
I don't really have much to add, but I do have a question, what IS dual channel all about anyways? when I read ram all I see is 512mb, 1gb, 2gb, etc. I don't understand all the other mumbo jumbo.
lots
09-02-2007, 07:47 PM
It is a similar idea to RAID 0. Data is split between two channels. Each channel can be used at the same time, thus if you put half your data destined for RAM on channel A and the other on B, you can write both halves to RAM in the time it takes to write just half the data.

Basically it doubles the performance.
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