Dual Channel DDR

[Aarmenaa]

Alright, Google's not helping much with this. I need to know more about Dual Channel DDR. Will it work with any 2 modules? Or, does it need special modules? Do the modules need to be the same size? Is Dual Channel limited to certain speeds (ie. PC 2700)?

-Aarmenaa

PS-Am I in the right forum with this?

[Izdaari]

It's at least arguably the right forum since Dual Channel is a motherboard feature.

You don't need special modules, they just need to be of a type supported by the motherboard, and you need two of them that match and installed in the proper slots (as specified by the motherboard manual). Dual Channel works - officially - with up to 400MHz (PC3200) so far, though running it that fast may impose limitations on how many DIMMs you can use. For example, Gigabyte's new nForce2 board has four DIMM slots, but if you want to fill all four slots you're limited to 333MHz (PC2700). You can run 400MHz if you only use two of the slots.

[Aarmenaa]

I'm actaully looking at a K7N2 Delta-L. It says it's DDR400 capable, and Dual Channel capable. So, I suppose I just need 2 PC3200 modules that are the same size?

-Aarmenaa

[Bigjakkstaffa]

So, I suppose I just need 2 PC3200 modules that are the same size?

Correct, as long as ram modules speed and size are the same or can run at the same level, dual channel DDR can be used, at least thats my understanding of it

--Jakk:t

[bushmaster]

I'd take it a step further and say it's best to have them from the same manufacturer as well as the same size, speed and type.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Yeah, its a good idea although not always necessairily essential, still, better safe than sorry

--Jakk:t

[Aarmenaa]

Why is it that when I buy RAM online they have a special option for Dual Channel DDR? It usually adds 10-20 dollars to the cost. Is there something special with this RAM?

-Aarmenaa

PS-I'm looking at a place called Enet (http://www.enetshoponline.com/index.html) which seems to have fairly good prices on thier RAM. They are charging $69 US for "standard" 512 MB DDR, and $92 US for Dual Channel 512 MB.

[bushmaster]

Because the manufacturer is saying it's a factory matched pair. For whatever thats worth. I have two sticks of Kingston HyperX 2700/512MB that were bought as seperate and have had no issues. They run fine in DCDDR mode.

[Aarmenaa]

Huh-20 bucks to have someone tell you what the sticker on the box says? Sounds like a deal to me! :rolleyes:

-Aarmenaa

[bushmaster]

Also look these guys (ENET) up on resellerratings.com

It seems as though they are rip offs and relabel the ram they sell you in almost every comment they had there.


Go to www.newegg.com instead, very trustworthy.

[Izdaari]

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2164.html

5.45! Eep! Run away! :eek:

New Egg is good, or you can order directly from Corsair, Crucial, Kingston or Mushkin, all of which have excellent ratings as vendors in addition to the quality of their RAM.

[mjrtoo]

I've had a lot of luck with my TWINX512-3200LL from Corsair. It's a matched set of DDR400.