Am I glad to find this site, and you guys had helped me clear out alot of question I had about adding memory and the confusion on DCM(Dual Channel Mode). Thank you so much!
Appreciate it if anyone could help clarify a few more question on "What if..?".
I currently have 1*Ultra 512MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz CL3 on my mobo.
From the discussions on here, seems pretty clear that unless I bought two stick of memory together, getting a matching module in the future even from the same site can be pretty slim.
So sounds like my best bet is to get a set of dual channel kit to run DCM.
(I am using the Ultra brand specifically just to cover the possible issue of brand incompatability assuming CL are the same).
So if I get a dual channel kit-Ultra Dual Channel 1024 PC3200 DDR 400MHz (2x512MB) CL3, add that to my existing Ultra 512MB CL3 module.
The 1 GB dual channel kit will run DCM, along with the other 512 module on single channel, or all 1.5GB stays on single channel or...?
Because on page 1, Th3M1ghtyD8 mentioned
"Any 2 sticks of memory (or 3 sticks depending on the Mobo) can be run in Dual Channel Mode, providing they are the same capacity (or same capacity per bank on some mobos e.g. 2x256 and 1x512), the same speed (e.g. DDR400 PC3200).
Can someone clarify this part?
FYI if someone is wondering -
"there are mobos which allowed 2 seperate dual-channels memory set which also also allowed "different CAS per controller" but not "different CAS per memory device".
He also mentioned
"All a "Dual Channel Memory Kit" is, 2 sticks of matching RAM, that has been guaranteed to run in a dual channel configuration, (a ploy) by the manufacturers to try and cut down on the amount of technical support they have to provide, because Joe User already has some memory, and hears about Dual Channel offering a performance boost, goes out and buys more memory (slightly different speed or latencies) and his machine does not work stably with it."
I am curious if the the whole "dual channel memory kit" is just a marketing scheme by manufacturers/retaliers. What is exactly the difference between two matching memory module and a "dual channel memory kit"?
I mean the price difference are huge between the two. It was suggested that if we buy both 2 sticks of branded memory (e.g. Crucial, Kingston, etc) at the same time, from a reputable supplier/retalier they are likely to be identical. If that is true, we would all be saving a lot of money. I am just curious if anyone do it that way, or how many does it that way and if anyone had end up with non-matching memory module?
Also Dtp2005 mentioned
One bad thing about AMD chipset, you can't have 2 pairs of matched memories.
You only put 1 matched pair of memory in slot 1 and 3. Try this if it work, I have GA-8KNXP Ultra 64, it has 6 slots, I put 1 GB Geil in 1 and 4 and it run in dual channel with 20% system increase compare with single channel. ....
I am confused about what he meant by that.
Thanks for the help.