Dual Channel Ram?

Zapho

Can anyone tell me if Dual channel ram and DDR2 are the same thing? And if not, what is DDR2? I've got a dual channel mobo and I'm looking to upgrade to 1gb from 512 dual channel. Any ideas?

Canis Lupus

Dual channel has to do with your mobo.


How many sticks of ram have you got? 1*512 or 2*256?

If it's 1*512 get a matching stick of 512 and check your mobo manual to see which slots to put them in.

If you have 2*256 and are planning to buy a stick of 512 my understanding is it won't run in dual channel but I really don't know how much in terms of performance you will be missing out on.

dawballz

Dual channel is that there is 2 slots.
Your 512mb of dual channel is one channel each of 256MB.
If you want to get to 1gb buy 1 stick of 1gb(if your mobo supports it)
or buy 2x512MB's.

Kiith

ok, i have two 256mb RAM with mine, and its dual channel DDR. does that mean i should get 2x256mb or 1x512mb piece, since im planning on upgrading to 1gig too.

dawballz

Do you know how many RAM slots there is on the motherboard?
Actuall here is a good pdf on dual channel memory.
http://www.kingston.com/literature/MKF_495_4_VRdualchannel.pdf

halkar

You need 2 of the same size memory ( better if they are from same company). Mobo manual should explane how to insert them and when you boot (depends on your mobo) it should say Dual Channell 128 bit (or something similiar)

Mac daddy

Zapho wrote:

Can anyone tell me if Dual channel ram and DDR2 are the same thing? And if not, what is DDR2? I've got a dual channel mobo and I'm looking to upgrade to 1gb from 512 dual channel. Any ideas?

First you mobo will need to support DDR memory -
If you have Sdram not a chance -

DDR and DDR2 are almost the same thing - there are more pins on ddr2 compared to normall DDr memory
Normal ddr memory has 184 pins -
DDR2 has 240 pins you will need a mobo that support ddr2 in order to use it!

DDR2 is faster then standard ddr starting of at 533Mhz where as normall pc4000 ddr runs at 400Mhz

Check the documentation for what support the motherboard has before going out a buying it.

Normally recommended when buying ddr memory to have to of them popped in you get a small barely seen speed increase.

Zapho

Thanks for the replies. Ya my mobo supports dual channel and I've got 2*256 at the moment. I'm just wondering if I should get 1GB or 2*512, seen as they're pretty much the same price. Would there be much of a speed difference between the 2?

Mac daddy

nah there won't notice it that much -

As for the dimms - Think about the future if you want to add more memory and you get 2x512 now you won't have anymore more room on the mobo you will have to get rid of one of 256Mb dimms for instance - Then go with the one Gig dimm

If you are planning on building for first or second time you will be more than likely be getting a mobo with ddr2 support note the two cannot be mixed.
Because now most new mobo that come out are ddr2 -

Mac daddy

halkar wrote:

You need 2 of the same size memory

Not true - you can mix them most mobo's support it -

As for speed mixing that also works on most mobo's

For instance - you have a single 256mb DDr dimm (pc2700) and buy a extra 512Mb Ddr Dimm (Pc3200) they should work fine - Remember the pc3200 will be running at the same speed as the pc2700 - both at pc2700

astrofool

if you mix, then it reverts to single channel mode.

TBH, you'll probably get the most performance now out of 2x512, and then if you ever want more in future, throw away the 2x256 and get another 2x512, or 2 x 1gb

halkar

Mac daddy wrote:

Not true - you can mix them most mobo's support it -

As for speed mixing that also works on most mobo's

We are talking about Dual Channel here, no mixing matching and some strick rules to stick with if you want it to work.

I bought 2x512 Twinmos 3200s from Komplett few months ago for about €105 ( I think they had a special offer at the time), I recommend them if you are not planning of overclocking your system. Works fine with dual channel setup and cheap

Zapho

Yeah, I'll go for the dual channel option. €105 is a great price, but the only thing is that its a laptop I'm upgrading so I need sodimms, which are more expensive!

halkar

Very few laptops support dual channel, you should check if you have free sockets to install 2 sticks of ram. Unfortunately it will cost you, not sure of the prices but guessing would be anywhere between €250-€300.

Mac daddy

For cheap memory check -

shop4memory

Use the memory configurator to see what is support in your laptop.

There based thinks it is kildare - or naas or the other

I have used them plenty of times and recommend them