Dual channel memory

DCFC79

My motherboard on my pc suppoorts dual channel so am i right in thinking that i try and get memory of the same speed as the 1 i already have, its currently got 1GB in and i was wanting to bump it up to 2 GB or could i bump it up to 3GB, it runs xp if its any help,

[Deleted User]

What is installed at the moment, 1x1GB or 2x512MB?

DatabaseError

simply, you need matched pairs, all of which will run at the speed of the slowest. The manual will show which slots are for which pairing, but, usually, if the slots are numbered 1,2,3+4 then 1+3 and 2+4 are pairs.
your current memory is probably 2x512kb

DCFC79

anewhope wrote: »

What is installed at the moment, 1x1GB or 2x512MB?

its 1x 1GB, this is my motherboard

DatabaseError

just shove another 1 gb DDR2 667 stick in, af 800mhz is cheaper than 667, get that

[Deleted User]

I think you'll be better off either getting 2GB or 4GB of DDR2 667 and forgetting the 1GB that you've installed at the moment, as you'll be running the memory in Dual Channel which is the optimum.

In your BIOS can you adjust a setting for VDIMM and the Memory Timings?

latecomer

DDR2 memory is very cheap at the moment so I'd second anewhope's post and say get 2x2Gb and sell the other one on ebay or put it in the cupboard.

DCFC79

anewhope wrote: »

I think you'll be better off either getting 2GB or 4GB of DDR2 667 and forgetting the 1GB that you've installed at the moment, as you'll be running the memory in Dual Channel which is the optimum.

In your BIOS can you adjust a setting for VDIMM and the Memory Timings?

ive no idea what the VDIMM is, i can have a look, anpther question is would xp recognise the 4GB

[Deleted User]

DCFC79 wrote: »

ive no idea what the VDIMM is, i can have a look, anpther question is would xp recognise the 4GB

VDIMM is the voltage that is supplied to the memory, different brands have different requirements for their chips to operate at the stated speed (and beyond). It's a function controlled by the motherboard through the BIOS, and is worth investigating beforehand otherwise you could end up with sluggish memory or perhaps a system that can't boot with it installed.

I'll have a dig around at lunch to see what range your motherboard can handle, so we can eliminate memory that would be dud.

Edit; What version of XP have you got?

Click Start > Run type sysdm.cpl then go to general and does it say x86 or x64? If it's x86 that's 32 bit and can only address up to 4GB so the actual useable memory will be in the region of 3.2GB - 3.5GB. If it's x64 then it should address above this and you will be able to use the full 4GB.

DCFC79

Ive found the boards manual and its only got 2 ram slots so ill get 2 x 2GB of ram,

DCFC79

anewhope wrote: »

VDIMM is the voltage that is supplied to the memory, different brands have different requirements for their chips to operate at the stated speed (and beyond). It's a function controlled by the motherboard through the BIOS, and is worth investigating beforehand otherwise you could end up with sluggish memory or perhaps a system that can't boot with it installed.

I'll have a dig around at lunch to see what range your motherboard can handle, so we can eliminate memory that would be dud.

Edit; What version of XP have you got?

Click Start > Run type sysdm.cpl then go to general and does it say x86 or x64? If it's x86 that's 32 bit and can only address up to 4GB so the actual useable memory will be in the region of 3.2GB - 3.5GB. If it's x64 then it should address above this and you will be able to use the full 4GB.

ok thanks anewhope, the version of xp is xp home