memory question

[cudakite]

I have 4 slots of dual channel memory on my motherboard. I currently have (4) 256mb modules installed. if i buy (2) 1GB modules should i completely remove all the 256MB modules and just have the two 1 GB modules installed or can i leave two of the 256MB modules in to make a total of 2.5GB? or will the different sizes mess up to whole dual channel system?

[JokerRJA]

I'm going to have 1GB of RAM in each channel so that will be dual channel. 2.5GB will not be dual channel anymore. Stick with 2GB.

[cudakite]

ok thanks. so haveing (2) 1gb modules and (2) 256mb wont work in dual channel mode right?

so once i have (2) 1gb modules installed, the only way to add more memory and keep it working dual channel is to add two more 1gb modules?

[JokerRJA]

Right.

[cudakite]

bummer. thanks for the info though. Anyone need four 256mb modules of ram?

[Incinerate_IV]

No leave the 2 256mb in, as long as they are in slots of same color they will be in dual channel. Dual channel only works with 2 sticks of ram, so it won't matter.

[Erik]

I think the question is: does dual channel only work with a pair of equal RAM in slots 1 and 2, or does it also work with a pair of equal RAM in slot 1 and 2, and another pair in slot 3 and 4.

I think you need to consult your BM's manual for that.
Or just try it out and check your BIOS or a diagnostic tool to check if you are in dual channel mode or not.

Not that 2GB of RAM isn't more than enough anyways...

[Incinerate_IV]

When motherboards have 4 memory slots, they are usually divided in groups of 2 slots with same color. When you insert 2 sticks of memory of the same size into the 2 slots of same color they will run in dual channel. So you can have 4 sticks of ram on a motherboard with both of them in dual channel as long as you put the 2 1GB sticks in slots of same color and the 2 256MB sticks in slot of same color.

[cudakite]

now see that's what i thought Incinerate. that's what i was planing on doing. just match the colors with the same size memory. and also true what you say Erik i'll look for a diagnostic tool. i'll check the Bios too but it's a dell so that might not help much.

[Hadrian]

Hey Incinerate_IV, are you sure? I thought so too, but before I removed my pair of 512GB dimms(on Your advice,and that of OTZ,ya'll were right,I bow to you both,good Sirs...),I checked in CPU-Z and it revealed that ALL 4 dimms were running in single channel mode! 1GB dimms AND the 512GB dimms! So I said "damn!"
I also noticed that 4 dimms wouldn't run at their set speed.For example,my memory is DDR400 but with 4 dimms in they would run no faster than 100-133Mhz,instead of 200Mhz!This,in turn,greatly limited the OC ability of my Athlon64 4000+(currently an FX-55 in disguise at 2.72Ghz,and soon to be impersonating an FX-57!)and drove down all my other settings,stability,etc....
With only the pair of 1GB dimms in I was able to achieve great stability,233Mhz speed(DDR466),and a 10,690 score on 3DMark05 and 5147 on 3DMark06 with one 7900GTX. Super PI 32M ran at 26m/47s but that was the first time I ever ran it, so I'm not sure if thats good or not.There were no errors though.:sweatingb:

cudakite, get a matching 2GB Dual Channel Kit,pay attention to the slots you insert them into as the others have advised,check your work with CPU-Z and save yourself some trouble,ditch the other 4 dimms! Your AMD processor will thank you for it....

[cudakite]

OK I'll check out that CPU-Z thing. BTW i do Not have a AMD it's a P4 3.4GHz

[Hadrian]

I knew it! I knew if I "assumed" you had an AMD, you would naturally own an Intel P4 3.4GHz processor! I really don't know if Intel has the same problems with all the dimm slots being filled since they still have a true FSB. I guess probobly they don't since the big difference between the two is that AMD's x64 memory controller is built into the die of their processor chipset and Intels still utilize the mainboard.I'm sure a couple of the guys with OCable Intels would know....:

[Hadrian]

I knew it! I knew if I "assumed" you had an AMD, you would naturally own an Intel P4 3.4GHz processor! I really don't know if Intel has the same problems with all the dimm slots being filled since they still have a true FSB. I guess probobly they don't since the big difference between the two is that AMD's x64 memory controller is built into the die of their processor chipset and Intels still utilize the mainboard.I'm sure a couple of the guys with OCable Intels would know....:...now ya tell me its a Dell!

[Incinerate_IV]

4 Dimms don't hurt performance on Intel at all, in fact I have 4 512mb dimms. You only should have 2 sticks when you have AMD. The moment he said he has a Dell I knew he have Intel :wink: . Dell never use AMD.

[cudakite]

-UPDATE-

ok first of all, thank your so very much for you help guys.

now i installed the two 1GB sticks and left the two 256 stick in (colors matching) i checked the bios and it said

MEMORY CHANNEL MODE: DUAL INTERLEAVED


and then i got that CPU-Z thing and here's what it said under the "memory" tab-





is it safe to assume it's running properly in dual channel mode?


p.s. wow what a difference in rome and especially BF2! :original:

[JokerRJA]

I guess I was wrong..............@!%^&&

[cudakite]

Sheesh Joker, you almosted gypped me out of 512mb!

[JokerRJA]

Sowwwy..............I'm just naturally envious of people with more RAM than me MWAHAHAHAHAHA