Memory (RAM) Upgrade Advice

[Robin]

Im thinking about adding more RAM to a system of mine (built around 2005) and was wondering....

I currently have x2 512MB PC3200 DDR sticks running dual channel in slot 1 and 2.

I want to buy x2 1GB PC3200 DDR sticks and put those in slot 1 and 2 and move the exsisting memory to slot 3 and 4 making a total of 3GB.

If I do this will the computer still run in dual channel? because im conserned the speed could actually drop if I dont put it all in correctly (im not all that literate on RAM). Will having the extra x2 512MB sticks in slot 3 and 4 help at all?

This is what the motherboard says it supports...

- Dual-channel DDR memory architecture
- 4 x 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM socket support up to 4 GB
- Support DDR400/333/266 unbuffered DDR SDRAM

Oh and I'm running XP (32).

Any help would be great, thanks 👍

Robin.

 

[hamstrings]

Yes, you can keep dual channel operation if you install RAM in pairs. The slots are usually colour-coded to show you where pairs need to go.

Get regular RAM. Enthusiast RAM with heatspreaders tend to require above-standard voltage. Avoid generic RAM as they may not programmed properly and can be finicky with certain motherboards.

 

[Eric.]

Yes, you can keep dual channel operation if you install RAM in pairs. The slots are usually colour-coded to show you where pairs need to go.

Get regular RAM. Enthusiast RAM with heatspreaders tend to require above-standard voltage. Avoid generic RAM as they may not programmed properly and can be finicky with certain motherboards.

Well you started off right...

The matched pairs will usually go like this in your case: bank 1 -1GB, bank 2 - 512MB, bank 3 - 1GB, bank 4 - 512MB. And they are probably color coded.

As for what RAM...heatspreaders keep heat out of the RAM, making it last longer. You'll notice that almost all of the modern speeds of RAM use heatspreaders, and either the "value" series or generic brands will be without them.

 

[ferrari_chris]

IMO, Dual Channel is over-rated. I read an article claiming just a 5% speed increase on particularly memory intensive operations. Day-to-day use yielded not noticable speed increase.

 

[hamstrings]

As for what RAM...heatspreaders keep heat out of the RAM, making it last longer. You'll notice that almost all of the modern speeds of RAM use heatspreaders, and either the "value" series or generic brands will be without them.

No. Look up JEDEC-spec DDR2-800 on Newegg. Kingston, Corsair, and Crucial all offer value JEDEC-compliant DDR2-800 DIMMs without heatspreaders since there is no need for them: regular RAM does not warrant the use of heatspreaders as the dies themselves are sufficient to remove heat. It is unlikely that manufacturers would be shipping RAM that would not last if they include a lifetime warranty with them. On higher speed RAM you will find heatspreaders since they often use higher than spec voltage (>1.8 V) to perform at tighter latencies and higher clock speeds. This results in more heat.

Of course, Robin uses DDR400, but this still applies.

I don't recommend that Robin. gets enthusiast RAM because it is not apparent to me that he has a motherboard that lets him tweak voltage. At the same time, if he's tweaking voltage, he may be overvolting his old RAM.

 

[nick09]

I know the super talent(1GBx2) pack of DDR400 ram on newegg works great. They are pretty fast and a good value for the cost.

 

[Eric.]

IMO, Dual Channel is over-rated. I read an article claiming just a 5% speed increase on particularly memory intensive operations. Day-to-day use yielded not noticable speed increase.

So are you saying he should just stick his RAM in randomly and not get the 5% advantage?

 

[hamstrings]

He didn't say that. He said dual channel is overrated. That's a 5% difference in very memory intensive operations. Of course if it's there, then why not? But in case Robin couldn't get dual channel working, he need not lose sleep.

Dual channel does come in handy for systems with integrated graphics though. The IGP can use the extra bandwidth. So can multi-core boxes: I wouldn't want to saddle a quad-core machine with single channel RAM.

 

[Robin]

The first two RAM slots are one colour and the other two are another. So slot 1 and 2 is dual channel and requires a pair. Thats how its working now with x2 512MB sticks and the bios registers a dual channel setup.

Basically if I install the pattern [1GB - 1GB - 512MB - 512MB] everything will be fine right? 3GB - Dual Channel

Ive been using Corsair Value Select memory on it and its excellent.. no problems whatsoever.

I would like to have everything dual channel because I do use memory intensive software on it often running together like Photoshop, ProEngineer and Alias Maya. (and yes it has survived on 1gb till now!)

Robin.

 

[Eric.]

The first two RAM slots are one colour and the other two are another. So slot 1 and 2 is dual channel and requires a pair. Thats how its working now with x2 512MB sticks and the bios registers a dual channel setup.

Basically if I install the pattern [1GB - 1GB - 512MB - 512MB] everything will be fine right? 3GB - Dual Channel

Ive been using Corsair Value Select memory on it and its excellent.. no problems whatsoever.

I would like to have everything dual channel because I do use memory intensive software on it often running together like Photoshop, ProEngineer and Alias Maya. (and yes it has survived on 1gb till now!)

Robin.

I haven't seen a motherboard that keeps the pairs together...Both of mine alternate, which would make it be like I said earlier it would be 1GB, 512MB, 1GB, 512MB....My slots are orange and yellow, so it is orange, yellow, orange, yellow. Orange is one set, yellow is the other, for dual-channel.

 

[Robin]

I haven't seen a motherboard that keeps the pairs together...

 

[Eric.]

Could actually be a DDR specific thing. All of my older boards that accept DDR do not support dual-channel. My newer ones are DDR2. I'd do it like you said.

 

[Robin]

Yeah this one is just DDR and this board uses slot 1 and 2 for dual channel.

Im pretty sure about the order, I was just conserned because ive heard that sometimes putting stuff in slot 3 and 4 can undermine the stuff running in dual channel in slot 1 and 2 which can lead to a slower speed overall.

I want 3GB all at full speed

Robin.

 

[hamstrings]

Many but not all of the AMD boards have the paired slots together. I use the ASUS M3A78-EM.

 

[Robin]

Been having a look round the web and this is getting more and more complicated.. I know a lot about computers just not damn RAM!

Basically...

If I have x2 1GB sticks and x2 512MB sticks will it all run full speed dual channel?

Thats all I need answering.

Thanks,

Robin.

 

[hamstrings]

Yes.

You're off to a good start since you're using Corsair ValueSelect; you're not likely to run into any compatibility issues. Just add in another pair of value RAM and you should be set. You don't need to juggle the current RAM around.

It's not rocket surgery.

 

[Robin]

Yes.

You're off to a good start since you're using Corsair ValueSelect; you're not likely to run into any compatibility issues. Just add in another pair of value RAM and you should be set. You don't need to juggle the current RAM around.

Cool, thanks for you help 👍 Corsair do well with the value select range and I would highly recommend it.

It's not rocket surgery.

Yeah I know, Im fine on everything else , afterall I did build the machine. Its funny because usually mates come to me to fix their computer issues!

With RAM you hardly ever deal with it for years until to upgrade which is why I just wanted some better knowledge from you guys!

Robin.

 

[nick09]

Yes, don't don't worry about the dual-channel. It should work anyways. Though the memory I would recommend is this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609058

It handles the stress of the programs very nicely, the heatsinks go with many cases and is well made, and for the fact that the brand is made in USA.

 

[Aldo]

hiya
i have my own question about RAM
i currently have a 1gb stick and a 512mb stick
i want to make it so i have 2x 1GB
do the two stickss need to be the same speed/type?
cheers
aldo

 

[hamstrings]

Do you know what is in there right now? CPU-Z can give you the relevant details.

If you have good RAM, then it will automatically run at the speed of the slowest module. If your current RAM is something old like DDR266, then you should buy DDR400 as it is cheaper. A quality stick will drop down to the proper speed.

 

[nick09]

The sticks from what I know do not have to be the same speed but it helps to buy a set to help in the dual channel feature.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

hiya
i have my own question about RAM
i currently have a 1gb stick and a 512mb stick
i want to make it so i have 2x 1GB
do the two sticks need to be the same speed/type?
cheers
aldo

The computer will run both at the slowest speed or it should. What do you mean by type? If you mean DDR,DDR2, etc. then yes they both have to be the same type. It can help with compatibility if they are the same model from the same company.

 

[Aldo]

ok cheers
to be honest i don't know what i meant by type!
your explanation helped a lot