Is using up all RAM slots bad?

SnoopSanders · 08-15-2007, 04:00 AM

I just wanted to know if it would be bad for performance to have all of my RAM slots filled (4). I heard my friend talking to me about one time and he said that it could affect performance. Is this true?

makmillion · 08-15-2007, 04:03 AM

It can effect performance, positively

The more RAM the better.

In some cases, though.. I've heard of people using 4 sticks of RAM and their board disabling dual channel.. but I've never actually seen it.

There is a limit.. only use the amount of RAM your OS will read.. don't stick 4GB of RAM in your PC if you use 32bit XP, for example.

SnoopSanders · 08-15-2007, 04:12 AM

Thanks, I currently have 512mb of memory (2x128mb + 1x256) and I wanted to buy an extra gig of RAM and that would fill up all the slots. I don't know that much about dual channel though, I have a dell that is about 3 years old (Dimension 4600) and I'm not even really sure if I have dual channel. But I think I should be fine.

addle_brains · 08-15-2007, 07:55 AM

Check your mobo specifications. Some mobos won't take more than a certain amount of RAM and some RAM configurations are not as good as others. Just make sure you're putting the right sized RAM in the right slots. The most probable configuration would be to put the Gig and the 256 in channels A1 and A2 respectively and then the two 128s in channel B slots.

nexolus · 08-15-2007, 07:47 PM

What would be the point of having 4 slots if it was bad to fill them up?

oscaryu1 · 08-15-2007, 08:48 PM

I have heard that putting RAM ina ll the slots will downclock the sped. I have an DDR400 512 + 256 and they run at DR333 (only 2 slots on mobo)

**The_Other_One** · 08-15-2007, 09:13 PM

Some motherboards will run at slower speeds, others will drop the timing down. However, the difference is rather minuscule. I hear about 5% decrease in performance.

It's all the 1T 2T settings. You can find your current timing using CPUz. I realized recently mine was running at 2T and so I changed it to 1T. Honestly, I see no real difference.

08-15-2007, 04:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
SnoopSanders Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Illinois, United States Posts: 52	Is using up all RAM slots bad? I just wanted to know if it would be bad for performance to have all of my RAM slots filled (4). I heard my friend talking to me about one time and he said that it could affect performance. Is this true?

08-15-2007, 04:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
makmillion Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: ~/.mak/ Posts: 773	It can effect performance, positively The more RAM the better. In some cases, though.. I've heard of people using 4 sticks of RAM and their board disabling dual channel.. but I've never actually seen it. There is a limit.. only use the amount of RAM your OS will read.. don't stick 4GB of RAM in your PC if you use 32bit XP, for example. __________________ Mainboard: MSI K9NBPM2-FID CPU: AMD x2 3800+ RAM: Kingston / 5GB (2GB + 2GB + 512MB + 512MB @ 4-4-4-12) Video Card: evga 7600GT (256MB GDDR3) HDD: Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200.10 (16MB Cache) x2 Optical: LG H41N + LG H44L Case: Xclio 188A (Black/Blue) OS: XP Pro Display: Acer AL2016W Audio: Logitech x-230 (Arrived - man these things rock!)

08-15-2007, 07:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
addle_brains Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Highfields, QLD, Australia Posts: 304	Check your mobo specifications. Some mobos won't take more than a certain amount of RAM and some RAM configurations are not as good as others. Just make sure you're putting the right sized RAM in the right slots. The most probable configuration would be to put the Gig and the 256 in channels A1 and A2 respectively and then the two 128s in channel B slots. __________________ ASUS P5K Deluxe /Wifi API Intel Core2 Duo E6750@3.37GHz 2 x 1Gig 667 RAM Inno3D iChill Nvidia 8600GTS XStriker3 2 x Seagate 250Gig SATA HD Samsung DVD-RAM Thermaltake Beetle CPU cooler Thermaltake 850watt Toughpower CoolerMaster Mystique Silver Aluminium Case

08-15-2007, 08:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
oscaryu1 VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 10,012	I have heard that putting RAM ina ll the slots will downclock the sped. I have an DDR400 512 + 256 and they run at DR333 (only 2 slots on mobo) __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

08-15-2007, 09:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,364	Some motherboards will run at slower speeds, others will drop the timing down. However, the difference is rather minuscule. I hear about 5% decrease in performance. It's all the 1T 2T settings. You can find your current timing using CPUz. I realized recently mine was running at 2T and so I changed it to 1T. Honestly, I see no real difference. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

08-15-2007, 04:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
SnoopSanders Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Illinois, United States Posts: 52	Thanks, I currently have 512mb of memory (2x128mb + 1x256) and I wanted to buy an extra gig of RAM and that would fill up all the slots. I don't know that much about dual channel though, I have a dell that is about 3 years old (Dimension 4600) and I'm not even really sure if I have dual channel. But I think I should be fine.

08-15-2007, 07:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
nexolus Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 472	What would be the point of having 4 slots if it was bad to fill them up?

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