Question about Dual Channel Memory

[supra]

I have a mobo with 4 slots for RAM and it supports dual channel. The banks are A1,B1,A2,B2. I'm getting 3GB of DDR2. There would be 1GB stick in A1,A2, and B1. Is that a waste of memory? Should I get another 1GB stick for the B2 bank?

[Cricket]

I have a mobo with 4 slots for RAM and it supports dual channel. The banks are A1,B1,A2,B2. I'm getting 3GB of DDR2. There would be 1GB stick in A1,A2, and B1. Is that a waste of memory? Should I get another 1GB stick for the B2 bank?What motherboard are you using? What are the specs for this computer?

What OS are you using? WinXP won't see or make use of RAM over 3GB.

Do you need 3GB of RAM? If you aren't doing anything with the computer that will make use of 3GB of RAM then you'll have a lot of memory just sitting around doing nothing most of the time.

:) Cricket

[supra]

Specs
Asus P5N-SLI Motherboard
(Core 2 Duo/ Core 2 Extreme/Pentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron, Socket T, nForce 570, ATX, 16GB DDR2, 1066MHz FSB - MPN: P5NSLI)

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Dual Core Processor
(2.4GHz, 4MB, 1066MHz FSB, LGA 775 - MPN: BX80557E6600)

3 Corsair 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMM Memory

eVGA GeForce 8600GTS Video Card - $189.99
(256MB, PCI Express x16, Dual DVI - MPN: 256P2N761AR)

Sony DRU-830A Dual Layer DVD±RW Writer
(18x/8x/18x DVD+RW, 18x/6x/18x DVD-RW, 8x DVD-R DL, 48x/48x/48x CD-RW - MPN: DRU830A)

WD Caviar SE16 250GB Hard Drive
(Serial ATA II, 7,200RPM, 16MB - MPN: WD2500KS)

Antec 900 Midtower Computer Case
(ATX/microATX, 9 Bays - MPN: NINEHUNDRED)

Antec SmartPower 2.0 500 Watt ATX12V v2.0 PSU PCIE Ready Model SP500

Samsung SyncMaster 940BX Black 19" LCD Monitor



I have WinXP now, but will probably get Vista soon. Maybe in the next few weeks.

[minsonngo]

Are you sure the memory you are getting is SODIMM?

SODIMM is memory modules for laptops usually. It won't fit in the ASUS board.



Do you have a link to the memory you are getting?

[supra]

Are you sure the memory you are getting is SODIMM?

SODIMM is memory modules for laptops usually. It won't fit in the ASUS board.



Do you have a link to the memory you are getting?

You scared me for a second there.

Whoops! Wrong one.

Here it is.

Corsair 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 DIMM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2458715&Sku=C13-6066&SRCCODE=PRICEGRABBER&CMP=OTC-PRICEGRABBER

[minsonngo]

TigerDirect.com is a bad place to buy from.


Get it from NewEgg.com...

Here is the 2GB kit for only $59.99 whereas TigerDirect is selling you only one stick for $49.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098



EDIT: I was not quite sure if you already have the parts or if you are planning to order parts for your build.

[supra]

TigerDirect.com is a bad place to buy from.


Get it from NewEgg.com...

Here is the 2GB kit for only $59.99 whereas TigerDirect is selling you only one stick for $49.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098



EDIT: I was not quite sure if you already have the parts or if you are planning to order parts for your build.

I didn't get it from TigerDirect that was just the first link I could find. I get my parts from Newegg or ZipZoomFly although after my last order I may not use ZoomFly again.

[Cricket]

I have WinXP now, but will probably get Vista soon. Maybe in the next few weeks.Make sure you get the 64 bit version of Vista, the 32 bit version of Vista will not see or make use of RAM over 3GB either.

:) Cricket

[minsonngo]

Gotcha.

Yeah... if you want 4GB of memory so your system can run in dual channel mode instead of running in single channel mode right now with the 3GB... you will need a 64-bit version of Windows to even utilize that amount.

The 32-bit versions of Windows only can utilize 3 to 3.2GB max.