Does putting the memory sticks in the blue slots really make a difference?

[kirby]

On the Asus A7N8X deluxe why label the dimm slots 1 2 and 3 and then
color 2 and 3 blue if they want you to use the 2 blue which are 2 and
3? I've always put memory in progressively, stupid me!

 

[Ben Pope]

On the Asus A7N8X deluxe why label the dimm slots 1 2 and 3 and then
color 2 and 3 blue if they want you to use the 2 blue which are 2 and
3? I've always put memory in progressively, stupid me!

What?

Just make sure you have your largest DIMM in slot 3 and you're likely to
have the best Dual Channel configuration.

Ben

 

[Stephan Grossklass]

On the Asus A7N8X deluxe why label the dimm slots 1 2 and 3 and then
color 2 and 3 blue if they want you to use the 2 blue which are 2 and
3? I've always put memory in progressively, stupid me!

I'd guess the blue slots are closest to the chipset and enable the use
of dual channel operation when you put two modules of the same kind into
them.

Stephan

 

[Ben Pope]

I'd guess the blue slots are closest to the chipset and enable the use
of dual channel operation when you put two modules of the same kind
into them.

The blue slots are not in the same positions on all boards. Slot 1 is
closest to the CPU, slot 3 furthest. Slot 3 is the second channel, so you
need a DIMM in that slot and one other slot to get Dual Channel... the DIMMS
do not need to the same kind.

Ben

 

[Ryan]

Am Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:33:03 -0000 hat Ben Pope <[email protected]>
geschrieben:

to the CPU, slot 3 furthest. Slot 3 is the second channel, so

you
need a DIMM in that slot and one other slot to get Dual Channel... the
DIMMS
do not need to the same kind.

Actually, for optimal performance you want to use only 2 DIMMS of the same
size - even better, same brand/type. If you use DIMMS of different size,
or 3 DIMMS, the memory controler cannot adress the memory at a ratio of
1:1 through 2 channels. With 3 DIMMS its more like 1:2, for example.

 

[Ben Pope]

Am Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:33:03 -0000 hat Ben Pope <[email protected]>
geschrieben:

to the CPU, slot 3 furthest. Slot 3 is the second channel, so


Actually, for optimal performance you want to use only 2 DIMMS of the
same size

Agreed, but you still get Dual Channel with different sizes.

- even better, same brand/type.

Why? Memory is memory. It's not like the nForce2 platform compares the
info in the SPD or anything.

You do not need to match speed, timings or quantity in order to get Dual
Channel. You will have to run all RAM at the lowest common denomator
though.

If you use DIMMS of
different size, or 3 DIMMS, the memory controler cannot adress the
memory at a ratio of 1:1 through 2 channels. With 3 DIMMS its more
like 1:2, for example.

Depends... often people tend to buy 2*256MB which they run in Dual Channel,
256MB per channel, then purchase 1 512MB and add that... Dual Channel with
512MB per channel.

Ben

 

[Ryan]

Am Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:46:10 -0000 hat Ben Pope <[email protected]>
geschrieben:

Agreed, but you still get Dual Channel with different sizes.

I never said otherwise.

Why? Memory is memory. It's not like the nForce2 platform compares the
info in the SPD or anything.

Why? You wont run into problems with matching DIMMs, thats why. I'm not
saying with different DIMMS you're bound to have problems, but it is
certainly more likely than with the exact same type of DIMMS.

You do not need to match speed, timings or quantity in order to get Dual
Channel. You will have to run all RAM at the lowest common denomator
though.

I never said that.

Depends... often people tend to buy 2*256MB which they run in Dual
Channel,
256MB per channel, then purchase 1 512MB and add that... Dual Channel
with
512MB per channel.

Yes thats right, but you will lose performance when doing so. That was my
point.

 

[Ben Pope]

Yes thats right, but you will lose performance when doing so. That
was my point.

Why do you lose performance, and over what?

Ben