dual channel memory

[madad2005]

Hi,

will memory that is advertised as being dual-channel work on a motherboard that is not dual-channel activated? I want some high-performance memory sticks, but they are all advertised as being dual-channel and my current mobo doesnt support it.

Any recommendations? I am currently looking at Geil Ultra 1GB (2x512) PC4000 with thermo (cheapest I could find).

Cheers

[Fruss Tray Ted]

It will work fine in any mobo that it fits.

[deeppow]

And vice-versa. Non-dual will run dual, even mismatched sticks but you'll run/perform at the slowest stick's speed.

The solid brands that I like are Mushkin, OCZ and Corsair but then arguing the best is a kin to poltics or religion at times.

[madad2005]

Cheers for clearing that up. I went for the Geil memory after all. Was the best I could get at the money I wanted to spend. The timings werent great (2.5-4-4-7), but they are good up to 500Mhz and come with temp thermometers! Woo! I have been told that the timings make little difference to memory performance, anyway (2-3%). Thanks again.

[alex666]

Running non-DC memory on a DC mobos risks many headaches, at least on some of the earlier DC boards. I think the newer processors, at least the AMDs, apparently will be more tolerant, something like that. I cannot recall the specifics.

But DC memory should run just fine on a non-DC chipset. I say "should" because every mobo has its quirks. I was not able to get my OCZ 3200 rev.2 2 X 512 modules to both run on my alby kt-600, at least at 1T. The mobo just had some trouble with this. I was able to run it at 2T, but you take a huge performance hit. However, both modules work perfectly on my alby 18D Pro II nf2-400 ultra mobo, which is DC, even at a speed of 230. Both boards use Athlon XP mobile 2600 cpus, and swapping out the chips made no difference.

I've also read of others having problems with 2 512 modules or 2 1 gig modules, even on non-DC mobos. In contrast, others have no problems. Sometimes it's the particular bios being used, the particular brand of memory, whatever.

Good luck.

marty

[deeppow]

... I went for the Geil memory after all. Was the best I could get at the money I wanted to spend. The timings werent great (2.5-4-4-7), but they are good up to 500Mhz and come with temp thermometers! Woo! I have been told that the timings make little difference to memory performance, anyway (2-3%). ...


Good luck with the Geil, a number of folks like it too.

You're numbers are correct for the performance lose for single steps increases for all the timings on dual channel, i.e. going from 2-2-2-N to 2.5-3-3-M is ~3%. About twice that loss for single channel. Measured those on nF2 boards. The nF3 boards are about the same on single channel, the on-CPU memory controller must be making up the difference. Documented it all on my guide but that is another story. About to measure performance on an nF4 dual channel board, don't expect to see much difference but I've been surprised before.

Have fun with the new memory. :p

[madad2005]

Which guide is that? I am always ready to learn more! Also, I just noticed that the timings on the box are 2.5-7-4-4.. have they muddled up the order or is this actually what the timings will be? guess I'll find out at lunchtime when I set this baby back up and running! :-D

[deeppow]

The guide is Motherboard, Memory, and CPU Overclocking Guide (http://www.deep-powder.net/OC_Guide/Mem_Mobo_CPU_Overclocking_Guide.htm).

There is no industry standard for the ordering of timing #s but you usually can guess them. If it isn't clear then you have to ask.