RAM: Dual Channel

I'm going to go get some more RAM some time this week. I already have 2x256 set up in the dual channel "mode".

Now how does this work? Does it make the two sticks just act like one really fast one? Does the computer treat it as if I had only 256mb or does it actually count it up to 512?

So after I get two more sticks, with this dual channel will they be added up to 1024 or does the computer think that there's only 512?

i'll tell you myth behind all this dual channel thingi:

now starting from a base module configuration:

suppose you have 2X256MB Sticks of PC3200 (DDR400), DDR has data transfer rate of 3.2GB/s
Now you have total RAM of 2X256 = 512 (agreed)

Single Channel Mobo: your RAM has increased to 512, but your data flow rate remained at 3.2GB/s

Dual Channel Mobo: your RAM size increased to 512, a the same time your Data Tranfer Rate doubled, means increased from 3.2 to 6.4GB/s

Understood??

i'll tell you myth behind all this dual channel thingi

Click to expand...

Where was the myth?

So after I get two more sticks, with this dual channel will they be added up to 1024 or does the computer think that there's only 512?

Click to expand...

I have heard of some intel boards, with 4 DIMM slots having dual channel spread over those four slots (meaning if you populate the slots with 256MB modules, you will have 1GB with a total speed of 6.4GB/s). This is unconfirmed hwoever and in general, motherboards come with three DIMM slots, only two of which are designated for dual channel usage (usually slots 1, 3 or slots 2,3 but your manual will yell you)

To continue to use the memory in dual channel mode, you can only use two of the thre slots, If you use three slots, the entire setup will run in single channel mode.

I've got four slots [click]

The manual says if all four slots have identicle memory modules, then it'll still run in dual channel mode. That's what I'm doing

Thanks guys

Awesome... i knew there was an ASUS board like that heehee. Glad you got that sorted out.

I dont know if my friend is blowing smoke or what. He has 4 slots on his motherboard and he told me if he was too have 4 memory sticks that instead of using dual channel it would use like 4 channel mode or something like that. is there something faster then dual channel?

this isnt anythign like triple/quadriple channel!

and yes Asus boards on Intel chipsets comes with 4 slots (banks) for memory.

as in my case, I have 4, all populated with 512 each,

only A7N8X (in dual channel) came with 3 (and U have to insert 1 on each side to enable dual channel) 3rd one is optional.

and in case of 4 slots, u dont have to populate all 4 to enable dual channel, as there are in forem of 2 groups, so rather than populating both banks of 1 group, (assuming u have 2 dimms), insert into one of each group, and there you are, with dual channel.