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    Do I need two identical sticks of ram to enable the dual channel?

    Discussion in 'Fujitsu' started by aaronk_83, Sep 25, 2005.

  1. aaronk_83

    aaronk_83 Newbie

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    I don't even know if that's how I should I ask the question, but I recently bought a new s6240 and I have one 512 stick and one 256 stick and was just wondering if I needed to upgrade the other 256 to 512 to make full use of the DDR2?

    Thanks
     
    aaronk_83, Sep 25, 2005
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  2. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes you need 2 identical (same size) modules to be able to make use of dual channel.

    It's even advisable to get them of the same brand/model, to make sure you wont run into incompatibility problems.
     
    qwester, Sep 25, 2005
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  3. aaronk_83

    aaronk_83 Newbie

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    Thanks Qwester, the ram I bought is supposedly fujitsu authourized, that's why it was so expensive. Now I'm a bit pissed because the guy I bought it from never told me about needing to have two identical modules to make use of the dual channel :(
     
    aaronk_83, Sep 25, 2005
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  4. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

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    It's not a big deal if you don't run in dual channel mode. The gain is too minimal.

    Are you currently using 400MHz or 533MHz Rams? If 533MHz, the gain of dual channel is none existant.
     
    qwester, Sep 25, 2005
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  5. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    so if i got a 1gb stick of crucial ram for my N6210 to go with one of the 256mg sticks that is already in it i won't run in dual channel mode, but i have 533mhz ram so the gain is too minimal to matter?
     
    circa86, Sep 25, 2005
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  6. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes you will run in single channel mode with 2 none identical modules. But your rams are running at the same bus as your CPU so there will be no gain anyway from dual channel, and if anything too minimal to notice during regular use (if you benchmark there MIGHT be a bit of gain under dual channel).

    BTW you will also be running in single channel if you use the 1GB module alone.
     
    qwester, Sep 25, 2005
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  7. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    i may get another 1gb stick eventually of the same ram so i have no need to worry i guess. thanks for the info qwester
     
    circa86, Sep 25, 2005
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  8. KrispyKreme50

    KrispyKreme50 Notebook Evangelist

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    Intel is currently developing a technology that will enable dual channel on mismatched pairs that may or may not debut on the Yonah platform.
     
    KrispyKreme50, Sep 26, 2005
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