Dual channel memory vs Single channel

[tsowen]

Hi,

I am overclocking an Abit AI7 MB with 3GHz P4 CPU. I have a pair of Corsair DDR400 512MB value select memory. When I first use the memory as dual channel (slot 1 & 3), I can set FSB to 240MHz, but the memory ratio can only be set to 5:4 (DDR384, running Memtest-86). The CAS setting is 3-3-3-8. If I use the memory as single channel (slot 1 & 2), I can set the FSB to 250MHz and DRAM ratio to 1:1 with no problem.

I am wondering which setting will have better performance? Also any reason with dual channel, I can't increase the memory speed as high as single channel. I thought dual channel only means the CPU can access memory with double bandwidth (128 bit vs 64 bit). The access speed to the memory is still the same. I must have missed something.

Thanks.

 

[themusgrat]

This means that the chipset is holding you back. I think that the dual channel is better, if you can't solve the problem. Usually, the CPU beats RAM speed, but not dual channel I think.