adding ram

can anyone tell me... does pc3200 DDR ram need to be added in pairs? I was told by a vendor this was the case, so does that mean if I want 512Mb I need 2 x 256 sticks, or 2 x 512's to make 1Gb? This doesn't make sense to me.

 

Go to crucial.com and use their memory advisor tool. It'll tell you just what kind of memory you need and whether you need to install it in pairs or not.

 

thanks christer and zander

 

The only time I've ever heard that you had to add memory in pairs was with RDRAM by Rambus. I doubt very much that you'll ever run into an instance where a motherboard requires DDR memory be added in pairs. Of course, if you want to run the memory in dual-channel, you'll need more than one stick.

But even that can be somewhat flexible as I've been able to run dual-channel with 2x256MB coupled with 1x512MB and I've even been able to run dual channel with two sticks of mixed sizes. The caveat was that only a portion of the bigger stick was running in dual-channel.

Christer, I'm not sure what you mean by "if your processor supports it ". AFAIK, it's all mainboard chipset-dependent.

I think what the person was trying to tell you was that buying two sticks is a "good thing" because of dual-channel. Of course, he may just have been trying to sell you more memory.

Gary

 

This is a quote from this page at Crucial's site. Under the last part at the bottom of the page. Titled, Slots and banks—the memory sockets in your computer

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That does describe RDRAM (Rambus) that Gary mentioned. I have not heard of any instances where DDR RAM "must" be installed in pairs.

The motherboard manual should make it clear (?)

Matt

 

Well, that's why I'm not in the hardware forum much.

 

Don't sell yourself short Zander. There is a little confusion here and we almost overlooked those EDO Simms chips that had to be installed in pairs - remember way back when? 72 pin what?

Actually there are a couple of different dual channel designs but the NVidia chipset runs two independent memory controllers that are not CPU dependent so one can enjoy the advantages of dual channel memory with 462 Athlons, 754 Athlons, 940 Athlons and 939 Athlons. I believe SIS and VIA have more recently followed this same general design. Intel's chipsets used a different design which was CPU dependent but since I'm no Intel guy, I'll quit while I can.



Edit: Oh yeah, almost forgot - to run in dual channel on a dual channel board, one must install in pairs.

 

Zander, you are obviously interested in RAM (a significant part of our machines). The point raised by the link is very valid, but may need further explanation. If a point is not clear for you, it will most likely not be clear for someone else. I know it is not quite clear to me. Maybe we can clarify things to the best of our knowledge and experience.

Keeping up with the latest trends and technology must be the same in your favourite forum

Matt

 

Hi All,

The answer is definitely yes and no! I had a problem adding DDRam to a previous board, (K6XV3), but recently I added a third card of PC3200, 500MB, to my A7N8X-E Deluxe to bring the total to 1.5GB, and had no problem. In fact, all of my memory is unbranded from an on-line seller, but I always make sure that the chips are Samsung. Seems to work!

Roger

 

That's exactly what I was thinking about when I went looking for that at Crucial. I knew they had something about it. I'd seen it before when looking for ram. Seems to me I've installed SDRAM for others in the past that required it in pairs also but I could easily be mistaken about that. DDR is another thing. I've installed enough of it but have never really taken the time to find out if any boards require it in pairs or not (had no reason to). I find what the board requires and buy it. So, thus my lack of knowledge about it.

 

A little OT but keep in mind there's no guarantee that memory you buy will work on a specific mainboard even if it's the right type. I have heard of cases where the ram and mainboard just didn't get along.

Of course, if Crucial tells you their ram works on a certain main board, you can pretty much take that to the bank.

Yes, I've been running in dual-channel for quite some time and I'm still on a Socket A platform.

Gary

 

If my motherboard supported dual channel, I would buy in pairs otherwise I would buy whichever comes cheaper.