DDR2 800 at Dual Channel?

XFs · 05-20-2006, 06:49 AM

I will be building a motherboard with 800 MHz bus.

With DDR2 800 memory, do I even need to make it Dual Channel?
I mean, running 1600 MHz memory on an 800 MHz bus just doesn't make sense?!

Tumbleweed36 · 05-22-2006, 04:24 AM

Hi,

The terms you are using are somewhat conflicted. Dual channel means that the motherboard takes two memory sticks and uses them in a more efficient way (faster processing through the memory channel) if in dual channel. Therefore, it takes at least two sticks for dual channel, and they must be in the proper slots. I don't know what board you have, but a board with 800mhz FSB as a rule uses PC3200 memory. Anything less as a rule with hamper the effectiveness of the board.

XFs · 05-22-2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Hi,

The terms you are using are somewhat conflicted. Dual channel means that the motherboard takes two memory sticks and uses them in a more efficient way (faster processing through the memory channel) if in dual channel. Therefore, it takes at least two sticks for dual channel, and they must be in the proper slots. I don't know what board you have, but a board with 800mhz FSB as a rule uses PC3200 memory. Anything less as a rule with hamper the effectiveness of the board.

Well, this motherboard is one I am considering.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131589

It says it takes DDR2 800 (PC2 6400).
I'm not sure if that is true or not.
But, if it is ... then running dual channel DDR2 800 on this 800 MHz motherboard ... doesn't make sense.

Tumbleweed36 · 05-22-2006, 05:16 AM

Hi,

Here is what you need for memory for that board:

4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support max. 8GB DDR2 800/ 667/ 533 ECC and non-ECC memory

That is one great motherboard. What I suggest that you do is go to the Newegg site (as you have), click on Manufacturer's specifications, then select the QVL list for that motherboard and buy only memory that is on that QVL list. That is the best way to get memory that works for a particular board. Better to be sure than sorry.

You can always run slower memory if listed on the specs, but I didn't see 3200 (would be PC400) on that list. However, I agree with you, run the fastest memory you can in this baby for a real hot unit. Again, if on the QVL list, then do it.

XFs · 05-23-2006, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Hi,
What I suggest that you do is go to the Newegg site (as you have), click on Manufacturer's specifications, then select the QVL list for that motherboard and buy only memory that is on that QVL list.

... QVL?

Wait, you mean this ...

http://compatible.corsairmemory.com/...D2-E%20Premium

It appears I can go with low latency DDR2 538 and run it as dual channel?

matt12685848 · 05-23-2006, 05:46 AM

Keep in mind that 2 sticks dual is faster than 4 dual

fade2green514 · 05-23-2006, 06:52 AM

yea 4 makes it run 2t, 25% performance decrease for some apps basically... NOT GOOD! lol
if you want a huge amount of ram i suggest you get 2x2gb, if you want it a little cheaper cause im sure a pair of those would be overpriced, then i suggest you get 2x1gb which is still really really big lol

fruscai · 06-20-2006, 09:20 PM

all dual channel means is "shared between TWO". that's the only important thing there, you need two identical sticks to run dual channel. If your mobo supports it, then go dual. Just make sure you buy ram that says "dual channel" in the specs, otherwise, obviously, it won't run dual. If you're not going to overclock though, which im assuming you wont, its not necessary to go ddr2 800. Because the cas latency is way higher (and you wont be changing any of the timings) then you actually might run slower then lower rated ram. Look at ddr2 533 and 667 as a safe bet.

[-0MEGA-] · 06-20-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fruscai

Just make sure you buy ram that says "dual channel" in the specs, otherwise, obviously, it won't run dual.

It doesnt have to say dual channel capable in order for it to run in dual channel mode. All thats required are two identical sticks of memory.

mrjack · 06-20-2006, 10:17 PM

But that's not what the advertisers want you to know, now is it?

They want you to buy a RAM Kit which costs a bit more than buying two individual RAM sticks.

05-20-2006, 06:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
XFs Silver Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 152	DDR2 800 at Dual Channel? I will be building a motherboard with 800 MHz bus. With DDR2 800 memory, do I even need to make it Dual Channel? I mean, running 1600 MHz memory on an 800 MHz bus just doesn't make sense?!

05-22-2006, 05:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 New Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 20	Hi, Here is what you need for memory for that board: 4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support max. 8GB DDR2 800/ 667/ 533 ECC and non-ECC memory That is one great motherboard. What I suggest that you do is go to the Newegg site (as you have), click on Manufacturer's specifications, then select the QVL list for that motherboard and buy only memory that is on that QVL list. That is the best way to get memory that works for a particular board. Better to be sure than sorry. You can always run slower memory if listed on the specs, but I didn't see 3200 (would be PC400) on that list. However, I agree with you, run the fastest memory you can in this baby for a real hot unit. Again, if on the QVL list, then do it. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 05-22-2006 at 05:19 AM.

05-23-2006, 05:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
matt12685848 Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 19 Posts: 387	Keep in mind that 2 sticks dual is faster than 4 dual __________________ XCLIO A380BK case RAIDMAX HYBRID2 RX-730SS 730W PSU INTEL BOXDX58SO 1366 X58 mobo INTEL CORE I7 920 2.66GHz CPU ATI Radeon HD4870 1GB GDDR5 core - 750MHz mem - 3600MHz GPU 2GBx3 OCZ DDR3 1600 RAM 1 TB Hitachi 7200 RPM HD 24" 1920 x 1200 Samsung LCD Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speakers

05-23-2006, 06:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
fade2green514 Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: buffalo ny Age: 21 Posts: 3,651	yea 4 makes it run 2t, 25% performance decrease for some apps basically... NOT GOOD! lol if you want a huge amount of ram i suggest you get 2x2gb, if you want it a little cheaper cause im sure a pair of those would be overpriced, then i suggest you get 2x1gb which is still really really big lol __________________ Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3ghz HD 4850 512mb (750/2350mhz) 2x2gb G.Skill ddr2-835 (5-4-4-10) 2x320gb sata2 in RAID 0 system drive 250gb sata2 storage drive 13,574 - 3dmark06 score

06-20-2006, 10:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
mrjack VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Finland Age: 18 Posts: 2,595	But that's not what the advertisers want you to know, now is it? They want you to buy a RAM Kit which costs a bit more than buying two individual RAM sticks. __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 @ 3.45GHz \| MSI P7N Zilent 2x2048Mb OCZ Titanium 800MHz DDR2 Western Digital Caviar 160Gb SATAII Samsung Spinpoint F1 320Gb SATAII Western Digital Caviar 500Gb SATAII Samsung Spinpoint F1 750Gb SATAII MSI NX8800GT OC 512Mb Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Antec Truepower Trio 550W Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

05-22-2006, 04:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 New Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 20	Hi, The terms you are using are somewhat conflicted. Dual channel means that the motherboard takes two memory sticks and uses them in a more efficient way (faster processing through the memory channel) if in dual channel. Therefore, it takes at least two sticks for dual channel, and they must be in the proper slots. I don't know what board you have, but a board with 800mhz FSB as a rule uses PC3200 memory. Anything less as a rule with hamper the effectiveness of the board.

06-20-2006, 09:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
fruscai Silver Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Age: 21 Posts: 103	all dual channel means is "shared between TWO". that's the only important thing there, you need two identical sticks to run dual channel. If your mobo supports it, then go dual. Just make sure you buy ram that says "dual channel" in the specs, otherwise, obviously, it won't run dual. If you're not going to overclock though, which im assuming you wont, its not necessary to go ddr2 800. Because the cas latency is way higher (and you wont be changing any of the timings) then you actually might run slower then lower rated ram. Look at ddr2 533 and 667 as a safe bet.

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