4 DIMM slots to choose from

I am installing a SOYO Dragon2 KT880 v2 board in my existing box. The memory
setup is listed as

DimmA1 DimmA2 DimmB1 DimmB2

The book has a chart that is confusing, at least at a glance. I am going to
use 2 of the 4 slots for 2 512M 400 sticks. Am I supposed to put them both
in DimmA slots or one in DimmA 1 and the other in DimmB 1or what is the
program on this?

Also, even though they are both DDR400 and the same chip configuration...
one is CLK 3 and one 2.5. Can they still run double cycles if I run them at
the slower speed (3?)?


Any other heads-ups on this installation?



Thanks for looking.

 

Ralph D. wrote:

With ram nothing can really go wrong, if you get the setup drasticly
wrong the computer will just beep at you and shut down.
So try them in DimmA1 and DimmA2 first, if you have any problems move
the second strip DimmB1.

 

Generally, the RAM is sold in a kit to run dual channel. Check out
this link
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_memory.asp
and you will see that Dual Channel is sold in pairs. Dual Channel is
specialized RAM and not all RAM can be paired up to accomplish this
feat.
Your RAM will work fine at CL3 in slots A1 and A2. Put the CL3 in slot
1, overclock with care, and use the voltages recommended for the CL3,
not the CL2.5.
__

-nos1eep

 

Thank you for that 'well duh' moment. Sometimes I think entirely too
much.

 

I'm afraid that the information in the post above is misleading, false and
untrue. Utter bullshit in fact. Dual channel is not special RAM. It is a way
of utilizing RAM on a motherboard. As long as the two sticks are basically
the same (both DDR 400Mhz etc) then they will run in dual-channel mode. Some
smart-arse RAM sellers try to sell the RAM in "matched pairs" but they just
charge you more for two sticks! LOL

 

You are absolutely correct in that it is a function of the motherboard
to utilize the dual channel. I was unclear on that. But the RAM still
has to spec out the same in order to accomplish this. Very tight
tolerances are required for problem-free operation. I have tried
running a couple of dissimilar sticks in my Abit AN8 and was subject
to random reboots. 2 DDR400 sticks with the same chip configuration,
in perfect condition, would only run in 64 bit mode.
The RAM was tested by me one stick at a time and came up individually
perfect.
I purchased matched 1 gig sticks and they run flawlessly in 128 bit
mode. Buying matched pairs is the only way to go. Now, if you believe
me to be incorrect, give me some cites, I am always willing to learn.

Here is a link to a whitepaper on the subject.
http://www.kingston.com/newtech/MKF_520DDRwhitepaper.pdf



__

-nos1eep

 

If the RAm is matched and set for dual operation
they go in DIMM A1 and DIMM B1 or DIMM A2 and
DIMM B2 for optimal performance - otherwise it
makes no differnece where they go. I had one
that started with 1 chip, then add a matched
pair to make it three and now have two matched
pairs and it just flies along, matched pairs
in A1/B1 and A2/B2.

 

Get the matched sets. I haven't found them to be any more expensive than
individual sticks and you can be more certain that they will run reliably
in Dual Channel mode if your board offers it.

 

I have three PCs all running RAM in dual-channel mode. I have NEVER bought
"matched pairs" and all the systems run flawlessly.

 

Cool, glad everything works for you. Does this mean, from your
experience, that one can mix sticks with differant latencies and
brands? I have seen successfull dual channel configs that did not use
factory matched pairs, but they were all the same brand.
__

-nos1eep

 

The same brand and spec in each PC, but different types in different
computers.