James is pretty much right. Here's some more background if you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture One gotcha is: "Modules rated at different speeds can be run in dual-channel mode, although the motherboard will then run all memory modules at the speed of the slowest module." On a side-note, it depends how much stock you place in reviews from Toms Hardware, but theres a link from wikipedia to an article that "found no significant difference between single-channel and dual-channel configurations in synthetic and game benchmarks (using a "modern" system setup)." I thought that was interesting. YMMV On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 3:03 PM, Daniel Richards <kyhwana(a)gmail.com> wrote:
James Pluck wrote:
Hi all.
I thought there may be a memory expert out there in WLUG land :)
Is it deemed a good idea to mix DUal channel with non-dual channel ram in a machine with 4 ram slots? I currently have 1 gb of ddr2-667 ram and was looking at getting another 2 gb but I'm not sure if it is worht getting dual channel ram and running the dual channel in one pair of slots and the single stick in one slot of the other pair.
Enquiring minds and all that :)
There's no such thing as "dual channel ram". What happens is that you install the ram in "matching pairs" (ie, 2x1GB+2x512MB will work in newish board, I believe) which have the same speed/timings and the board will automagically run in dual channel mode.
If you install just one stick or 3 the board will run in single channel mode. You can't run 2x1GB+1x1GB in dual channel mode, it will just fall back to single channel.
(I think that's right) _______________________________________________ wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug