A7N8X-DLX Dual Channel Memory Question

[m...@here.com]

I am using two 512 meg sticks of Corsair XMS PC3500 in my A7N8X-DLX and
running dual channel mode. In order to stay in dual channel mode I cannot
put a stick of memory in the middle slot, correct? If I want to increase
memory and stay with dual channel mode I must leave the middle slot empty?

Thank you.

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[Ben Pope]

Nope.

The ideal situation is the same amount of RAM in bank 0 (slots 1 and 2) as
in bank 1 (slot 3), but even with differing quantities, you'll get dual
channel.

Ben
--
I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...

[Bugman]

"Ben Pope" <sp...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:bkv70c$6bsdh$1...@ID-191149.news.uni-berlin.de...

That was kind of confusing. With 2 equal amount modules, put them in sockets 1 and 3. Add the combined total of the previous 2 to the middle slot later if you need it. That wasn't really much clearer :)

[Ben Pope]

Bugman wrote:
> "Ben Pope" <sp...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bkv70c$6bsdh$1...@ID-191149.news.uni-berlin.de...

>> The ideal situation is the same amount of RAM in bank 0 (slots 1 and 2)
>> as
>> in bank 1 (slot 3), but even with differing quantities, you'll get dual
>> channel.
>

> That was kind of confusing. With 2 equal amount modules, put them in
> sockets 1 and 3. Add the combined total of the previous 2 to the middle
> slot later if you need it. That wasn't really much clearer :)

Or correct... that would give you three times the amount in bank 0 as in
bank 1...

[Bugman]

"Ben Pope" <sp...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:bkvtdt$6nl86$1...@ID-191149.news.uni-berlin.de...

> Bugman wrote:
> > "Ben Pope" <sp...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:bkv70c$6bsdh$1...@ID-191149.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >> The ideal situation is the same amount of RAM in bank 0 (slots 1 and 2)
> >> as
> >> in bank 1 (slot 3), but even with differing quantities, you'll get dual
> >> channel.
> >
> > That was kind of confusing. With 2 equal amount modules, put them in
> > sockets 1 and 3. Add the combined total of the previous 2 to the middle
> > slot later if you need it. That wasn't really much clearer :)
>
> Or correct... that would give you three times the amount in bank 0 as in
> bank 1...

With only 3 slots how could one bank be 3 times the amount of the other? We should combine the 2 previous in bank 0 and add to bank one. This is giving me a headache
Page 14 of the A7N8X-Deluxe maual. " NOTE: To enhance system performance, utilize dual-channel feature when installing addidtional DIMMS. You may install the DIMMS in the following sequence: Sockets 1 and 3 or Sockets 2 and 3 or sockets 1, 2 and 3."

[Bugman]

"Bugman" <bug...@keynet.net> wrote in message news:ZNKdnZsKS9t...@giganews.com...

Too many after work beers. Please disregard.

[Cybrow]

You can run dual-channel using 3 sticks of memory. I'm running a 512
stick in slot 1 and 256 sticks in slots 2&3. Below is a lengthy bit
copied from the XHardware forum on the subject.

By user bdubya:

3 sticks work as well
however there is one drawback:
you have 3 slots for 2 channels.
slot 1&2 = channel 1
slot 3 = channel 2

if the amount of memory in one channel is bigger then in the other
channel, only the amount of memory in teh smaller channel times two is
run in twinbank mode (128bit). the remaining ram is run in 64bit mode.

example:
slot 1&2 have a 512MB module in each slot:
channel 1 = 1024 MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module as well:
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 2 has only 512mb of ram *2 = 1024 in 128bit mode, the remaing
512mb of channel 1 are run in 64 bit.

example 2
slot 1&2 have a 128MB module in each slot:
channel 1 = 256 MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module :
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 1 has only 256mb of ram *2 = 512 in 128bit mode, the remaing
256mb of channel 2 are run in 64 bit.

example 3:
slot 1&2 have a 256MB module in each slot:
channel 1 = 512 MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module:
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 2 and channel 1 have the same amount of memory so the whole
ram is in 128bit mode.

example 4
slot 1 has a 512MB module, slot 2 is empty
channel 1 = 512MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module:
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 2 and channel 1 have the same amount of memory (1GB) so the
whole ram is in 128bit mode.

[m...@here.com]

So I could just add a third 512 meg stick and a total of 1 gig would be
running in dual channel mode or would all three sticks be? I am confused.

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[Ben Pope]

m...@here.com wrote:
> So I could just add a third 512 meg stick and a total of 1 gig would be
> running in dual channel mode or would all three sticks be? I am confused.

The first Gig would be dual channel.

From "NVIDIA nForce2 Memory Architecture Tech Brief":
http://www.nvidia.com/object/LO_20021105_7263.html

"This flexibility allows the users to populate up to three asymmetric DIMMs
in any organization, size and speed. DualDDR simply adjust to the lowest
common density that will facilitate 128-bit bandwidth, allowing a wide
variety of different DIMM combinations to operate reliably regardless of the
individual density and latency characteristics."

Which says that you can use any 2 or 3 dimms, with at least 1 in each bank
and you'll get dual channel on twice the minimum amount of memory in each
bank.

Since bank 1 (slot 3) will have 512MB and bank 0 (slots 1 and 2) will have
2x512MB, thats dual channel on 512MB*2 = 1GB.

[Aussie]

Read the bloody book.........It's not a paper weight u know....

<m...@here.com> wrote in message news:20030925125519.816$P...@newsreader.com...

[Aussie]

So read the f...... book.........

<m...@here.com> wrote in message news:20030926014052.625$f...@newsreader.com...

[m...@here.com]

I know why people don't visit the land down unda!

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