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Dual channel memory... will this work?

TM2 RampageTM2 Rampage Registered User regular
edited June 2008 in Moe's Stupid Technology Tavern
So I'm already have two sticks of RAM running in dual channel... they are DDR2 800. Each stick is 1 GB.

My mobo has 4 DIMM slots, so 2 are occupied.

If I want to run another pair of sticks in dual channel, they don't have to be the same as the first pair, right? if the new sticks are DDR2 1066, will I be able to run with the first pair in dual channel at the max speed it can do, and the second pair in dual channel at their max speed?

TM2 Rampage on

Posts

  • meatflowermeatflower Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    As far as I know, even though they're two separate channels, it can't run them at different speeds. Thus, your motherboard would default to the lowest speed modules.

    meatflower on
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  • DaedalusDaedalus Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    What he said. The front side bus can only be one speed, after all. Other things that get matched across all four slots include CAS timings.

    (oh and don't forget that 32-bit operating systems can't use the entire 4GB of RAM you're putting in there).

    Daedalus on
  • LittleBootsLittleBoots Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    All memory on your mobo will have to run at the same speed. That speed being the speed of your slowest stick of RAM.

    LittleBoots on

    Tofu wrote: Here be Littleboots, destroyer of threads and master of drunkposting.
  • TM2 RampageTM2 Rampage Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Oh, I see, thanks.

    So let's say I have a pair of DDR2 800 RAM from one company

    And another pair of DD2 800 RAM from another company

    So the first pair and second pair would be able to run in dual channel all at the same time just fine, right? Provided I have an operating system that supports 4 GB of RAM (which I don't, but I'm just curious now).

    TM2 Rampage on
  • MrMonroeMrMonroe passed out on the floor nowRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    It's still not recommended, and you'll not get a guarantee that it will work from either company.

    Another crucial thing to know is that alongside latencies and timings, voltage cannot be set differently on different channels. Make sure you're getting RAM that can run at the same voltage your current set runs. If you have one that needs 2.1 and the other that is maxed out at 1.9, you'll fail to boot running below 2.1 and you'll fry two of your DIMMs running above 1.9.

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