dual channel ram ..... HOW?

[WNx Makka99]

how do i set my ram to dual channel mode. and will it do anything better or faster? i ahve 1.5gigs of DDR ram

[Scinto]

Re: dual channel ram ..... HOW?

dual channel will have to be matched pairs ie 2x512mb & 2x256mb sticks that are also classed as being dual channel, it will do it automatically, it wont be dual channel if you have say a 1gb stick & 512mb

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: dual channel ram ..... HOW?

that are also classed as being dual channel

Sorry Scinto but that is complete and utter bull. There is no such thing as "Dual channel" ram. Ram is ram and it is the memory controller that determines whether the ram will run in dual channel or not.

With what you said that means that if ram is "dual channel" than it will run in dual channel mode on a socket 754 motherboard/cpu, when in fact the memory controller on the 754's does not support dual channel mode.

As long as the memory controller supports DC mode then any two sticks of ram that are the same size should work. the only reason for same size/speed/latency/etc is for compatibility/stability reasons. I have even seen people on other forums with the supposed "dual channel" ram kits that have had compatibility problems.

There is a very good ram guide over at Guru3d,

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=95128

and what it has to say about dual channel ram,

Dual Channel RAM
DC as a feature was first introduced to the majority of consumers with the nforce2 chipset. With the original nforce2 concept Nvidia wanted to create an integrated video solution. With integrated graphics DC would help since it could feed off one of the channels. But Nvidia missed the price point for an integrated graphics solution and made another version of the nforce2 chipset minus the integrated video. They then tried to push DC as a performance enhancing feature but we all know that DC on SoA makes no difference greater than perhaps 2-3% in games because the way in which the CPU communicates with the memory controller is too slow to take advantage. With Intel systems DC has a larger impact because of the greater bandwidth available, and it's the same with the A64 because of the IMC (integrated memory controller). Memory companies then took advantage of all the hype surrounding DC, tricking the consumer into thinking they need special "Dual Channel RAM" to run in dual channel mode. But the ability to run DC is down to the memory controller, not the RAM. To run in DC you simply need a memory controller than supports it and to ensure that the individual channels total the same capacity. You do not need the modules to be the exact same brand, revision or timings, although it may help with compatibility you shouldn't normally have a problem mixing modules. Dual channel kits are marketing. The modules contained within are the same model, tested to run together, and often have corresponding batch numbers, though these features are not essential to run in DC. However, since most RAM comes in these packs now anyway, you may as well buy one rather than two individual modules.
Note: Contrary to common belief, even in a DC kit, one stick will always OC differently to the other.

[WNx Makka99]

Re: dual channel ram ..... HOW?

ok, i think i will just leave dual channel alone for the moment. thanks for the quick replies anyway

[BoloMarkXXX]

Re: dual channel ram ..... HOW?

A simple explanation, a single or mismatched set of memory works @ 64 bit in other words data is writen and read 64 bits at a time 1 stick @ a time.

Dual channel use matched pairs because it writes and reads across both sticks together @ the same time @ 128 bits.

[ThunderPimp]

Re: dual channel ram ..... HOW?

As long as the memory controller supports DC mode then any two sticks of ram that are the same size should work.

I'm sorry Stormy, but that's complete and utter bull. In order to be run in dual channel moded not only do they have to be the same size, but also the same density ie: both single sided, or both double sided.