Dual Channel Ram question

[lostplanet]

I have 1GB of Geil value ram which im very happy with but im wondering what effect would it have on dual channel if i got another 1GB as its going quite cheap at the moment.

so ATM 2X 512MB PC3200 = dual channel = Ok
add 2X 512MB PC3200 = loose dual channel?? = ???

What sort of performance loss am i looking at and i am soon to upgrade to a
winchester 3500 with a Asus A8V deluxe AGP or possibly a PCIe Asus board.

[Panama Red]

Your sig lists the Geil memory installed in an Abit NF7-SG2. Abit's site lists a motherboard with model number NF7-S2G. Is that your board? If so, with only 3 memory slots, how are you planning to install that 4th memory module? If you were talking about an Intel based system with 4 memory slots, I'd say the dual channel will continue to work as long as each pair is matched. All 4 don't need to be the same. I've tested it personally on my P4P800-Deluxe. I've also added a third stick of memory to my Abit NF7-S2 and Dual Channel is maintained that way too.

[lostplanet]

Thanks PR

something else theyt mention is that if you fill all three slots the memory speed will clock down to 333 instead of the 400 i have now..is this correct?

yeah the idea is to add it to a Asus A8V which has 4 Dimms but until i get it i would just run the 3 sticks in the NF7.
i am wondering would i be better off and sell the existing 2 X 512MB Geil and go for a 2x 1GB Geil dual channel pack for the new board and processor?

[Panama Red]

something else theyt mention is that if you fill all three slots the memory speed will clock down to 333 instead of the 400 i have now..is this correct?

That's news to me but I'll check it out with mine and see what I get.

i am wondering would i be better off and sell the existing 2 X 512MB Geil and go for a 2x 1GB Geil dual channel pack for the new board and processor?

I don't have any personal experience with that board. If it was me, I'd wait til I had it up and running and try the different ram combinations and see what kind of results I'd get. Mobo manuals are pretty vague when discussing mixing memory and the effects on Dual Channel.

[mb26]

"something else theyt mention is that if you fill all three slots the memory speed will clock down to 333 instead of the 400 i have now..is this correct? "
that applies older VIA chipsets i believe.. when 333mhz ram speed was the norm (in sync with fsb) anyway..

i dont thinnnk u'll lose dual channel ram (not certain thou).. but u will lose the ability to run the ram with '1T' memory timings.. the A64 is very sensetive to this, possibly more so than loosing dual channel or running the memory at 333mhz.. so i would stay away from the 'upgrade' as unless you are using more than 1gb at any time, it will be slower.

[lostplanet]

sorry i should have made myself clearer i was talking about the NF7SG2 with the 3 slots full the memory clocks to 333 i believe, maybe Tin can shed some light on this..but its not major issue.

after the Asus A8V upgrade...
will stay away from the dual dual channel at 2 GB and go for a single 2GB dual channel kit.

seen a lot of ram clocking at 4000 etc does this mean i need to overclock the FSB on a winchester 3500 to get the best from this Ultra speed Ram?