DDR functionality

[Guest]

recently i have seen some ads that stated something to the
effect of 'to get the DDR benefits of your memory, you
must have a 'matched set' of memory cards.' is this true?
must i have two cards from the same manufacturer/batch to
utilize the DDR features of my computers memory?

currently i have 2 512 MB cards manufatured by different
companies installed. one came installed in the machine
from sony, and the other i installed about a year after i
purchased the machine.

thanks
-benz

 

[Jerry]

To ensure compatibility you would be better off with both from the same
manufacturer to insure they work together.

www.crucial.com and run their online memory test.

 

[Guest]

they are both installed and apparently working properly,
is there any way to test them to see if they are utilizing
their full bandwidth?

 

[BR549]

You do not need matched sets of memory cards. The DDR feature is that it
reads on both the rise and fall of a clock pulse, unlike SDRAM, so it
effectively doubles the speed. 133mhz becomes 266. If your 2 512mb cards
are seen by your OS and your pc is working, that's all you need to worry
about, it doesn't matter who made them. I have one 256mb and one 512mb
stick installed from different makers and they work just fine.

 

[peter]

This must be in regards to "dual channel" where you get better through put
if you place 2 matched DDR ram modules in certain sequence on the mobo.
It will work if the RAM is matched or if it isn,t!!!!!!!
peter