Dual channel DDR

[eng]

from what I know, for dual channel DDR on motherboards that support it, the
memory must be installed in identical pairs.

What if the memory is not installed in indentical pairs? Does the
motherboard disable the dual channel function? How much of a performance
hit?

Will the motherboard work with 1 stick of memory only?

TIA

 

[Strontium]

-
eng stood up at show-n-tell, in [email protected], and said:

from what I know, for dual channel DDR on motherboards that support
it, the memory must be installed in identical pairs.

What if the memory is not installed in indentical pairs? Does the
motherboard disable the dual channel function?
Yes.


How much of a
performance hit?

Depends on your application.

 

[Andy]

from what I know, for dual channel DDR on motherboards that support it, the
memory must be installed in identical pairs.

What if the memory is not installed in indentical pairs? Does the
motherboard disable the dual channel function? How much of a performance
hit?

According to the manual with my A7N8X Deluxe (Nforce2) you need to have 2
sticks but can have 3 and it will still work fine. Also states that the
sticks do not need to be the same size.

This info is matched by the Nvidia site which say 2 or 3 sticks can use the
dual channel facility.

I have not actually tried this yet but intend to get another 512MB stick to
add to the 2 x 256mb sticks of PC2100 I have now.

Will the motherboard work with 1 stick of memory only?

Yes but not in dual channel mode.