Dual channel mobo

[superklye]

Alright, I've got the Biostar M7NCD Pro motherboard and I'm pretty pleased with it. I've got some questions though because I've heard conflicting things regarding dual channel and I would like to get them cleared up.

First, there are three DIMMs: DIMMA, DIMMB1 and DIMMB2 (There is a distance between DIMMA and the Bs and the Bs are practically humping).

For dual channel mode, I put one stick in DIMMA and the other in DIMMB1. I only have 512MB and say I wanted to go up to 1GB and keep it dual channel. I asked somewhere else and someone said they thought this would work but weren't sure.

I have heard that DIMMB1 and B2 are treated as one stick when you would have a 512MB stick in DIMMA and two 256MB sticks in each of the DIMMB slots, thus keeping it in dual channel mode with 1GB memory. Is this true or does DC only work with a stick in DIMMA and DIMMB1?

[Gator]

...I have heard that DIMMB1 and B2 are treated as one stick when you would have a 512MB stick in DIMMA and two 256MB sticks in each of the DIMMB slots, thus keeping it in dual channel mode with 1GB memory...

Correct. It represents the 2 different channels. Sometimes the memory slots will be color coded as well to represent the two channels. I know the Asus A7N8X does this.

[saturnotaku]

If the slots are not color coded, the owner's manual should say which sockets are necessary to enable dual channel.

[superklye]

no no no...I've got dual channel already. I've got a stick in DIMMA and DIMMB1 and it's dual channel.

I've got 512 (2x256) and I want to know if putting both 256s in the DIMMB1 and DIMMB2 and then getting a Kingston ValueRAM 512MB PC3200 and putting it in DIMMA, if that would still result in dual channel.

[nVestor]

no no no...I've got dual channel already. I've got a stick in DIMMA and DIMMB1 and it's dual channel.

I've got 512 (2x256) and I want to know if putting both 256s in the DIMMB1 and DIMMB2 and then getting a Kingston ValueRAM 512MB PC3200 and putting it in DIMMA, if that would still result in dual channel.

It should, it does with a P4P800 at least. Friend bought 2x 256MB because that was all he could afford at the time. Set them up as Dual Channel. Then recently bought another 2x 256MB for a total of 1GB, 512MB of it still operating in Dual Channel.

Uncertain about the AMD platform, though I don't see why it wouldn't work. :)

[superklye]

It should, it does with a P4P800 at least. Friend bought 2x 256MB because that was all he could afford at the time. Set them up as Dual Channel. Then recently bought another 2x 256MB for a total of 1GB, 512MB of it still operating in Dual Channel.

Uncertain about the AMD platform, though I don't see why it wouldn't work. :)

Okay...I don't think that's the same thing.

I have it like this:

DIMMA 256MB


DIMMB1 256MB
DIMMB2

I want to have it like this:

DIMMA 512MB (1 stick since there is only 1 DIMMA slot)


DIMMB1 256MB
DIMMB2 256MB

If I do that, will the mobo stay in dual channel mode or not?

[superklye]

If the slots are not color coded, the owner's manual should say which sockets are necessary to enable dual channel.

No...the manual sucks ass.

[camelot]

Okay...I don't think that's the same thing.

I have it like this:

DIMMA 256MB


DIMMB1 256MB
DIMMB2

I want to have it like this:

DIMMA 512MB (1 stick since there is only 1 DIMMA slot)


DIMMB1 256MB
DIMMB2 256MB

If I do that, will the mobo stay in dual channel mode or not?

Yes it will. As long as both channels are the same memory speed and amount it should work fine.

[superklye]

Yes it will. As long as both channels are the same memory speed and amount it should work fine.

alright, thank you!