Quickie: Dual channel RAM requires 2 sticks, but can it run with 3 sticks??

[glorygunk]

If I added another 512MB stick to my mobo (MSI M7NCD Pro) for a total of 1.5GB, will I still have the dual channel benefits?

 

[ts3433]

It can sometimes on the AXP, but unless you're using NF2 IGP onboard video, you see no benefit anyway.

 

[glorygunk]

Well what I really mean is whether 3 sticks of RAM will negate the dual-channel mode....

i.e. Will bus speed be halved if I add on another RAM stick?

 

[djspl]

with Nforce 2 you can have 3 sticks and preserve dual channel as long as you have 2 sticks that add up to the 3rd, for example 2 x 256 and then 1 x 512. You will not have dual channel running 3 x 512.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: glorygunk
Well what I really mean is whether 3 sticks of RAM will negate the dual-channel mode....

i.e. Will bus speed be halved if I add on another RAM stick?

3 sticks of ram will NOT negate DC.

The best solution is when the 2 sticks of ram in slots 1 & 2 together equal the stick in slot 3. Ex. 2 sticks of 256MB in slot 1 & 2, the third stick in slot 3 is 512MB. But AFAIK there will be no "problems" with three sticks of 512MB.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: djspl
with Nforce 2 you can have 3 sticks and preserve dual channel as long as you have 2 sticks that add up to the 3rd, for example 2 x 256 and then 1 x 512. You will not have dual channel running 3 x 512.

I have dual channel running in two of my three installed 256s, so either youre a silly silly person, or something weird is up with 512mb installs.

 

[slash196]

Since when do socket A boards have dual channel capablilities anyway?

 

[hundesau]

yep, he got no idea what hes talking about and the first posting neither....nforce2 wont have improved performance with dc, todays systems indeed profit from dc like socket 939. At least when running sandra but in some games and appz too. but regarding nforce2 that was a big hoax always. no nf2 system ever profited from dc. maybe 4%....impressive feature.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: slash196
Since when do socket A boards have dual channel capablilities anyway?

Since the introduction of the nForce chipset.

Yep, gains on these boards are only 4-5%. But the real benefit is for those nForce mobo's with integrated graphics.

Again, to answer the OP's ?, yes three sticks of 512MB will run in DC, it just won't be balanced but the mem controller will handle it. Prolly won't OC worth a crap though.

 

[djspl]

well, if I'm so wrong what does this mean?
"...there are two most optimal cases: equal memory modules inserted into the first and second slots, or three modules, with the first one being equal to the sum of the other two modules."
http://www.digit-life.com/arti.../nforce2-1vs2channels/

 

[djspl]

http://board.iexbeta.com/index.php?showtopic=50139
http://forum.lowyat.net/lofive...index.php/t118183.html

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/9219 :
"You can use three modules in Dual Channel Mode, by filling the third unoccupied slot. With three sticks, slots 1 remains as channel 0 while slot 2&3 become channel 1. To maintain 128-bit mode, with all three slots filled, each channel must have an equal amount of memory. For example, slots 1 should be filled with a 512Mb module, while slots 2 & 3 are populated 256Mb modules. If you were to use three modules of the same size, then only first two modules would be running in 128bit Dual Channel Mode. Example, using 3x 256Mb modules will have the first 512Mb running in 128bit Dual Channel mode, while the remaining 256Mb will be in 64-bit Single Channel mode."

 

[PG]

I don't have a link right now, but I thought that some CAD stuff would really benefit from dual channel. Specview benches seemed to show this, and it was much more than just 4 to 5%.

 

[PhattyT]

i have 3 x 256's and its reading DC as cpuz states... but i don't want it too... cause it crashes when i have it in dual channel prolly cause their not all the same sticks. 2 x 3200 and 1 x 2700. is there any way to take it off DC?