DDR2 Dual Channel Memory

[Galactus]

Sorry, newbie question lang.

I just bought an HP a6640d desktop. According to the specs sa HP website, DDR2 Dual Channel memory na siya, 800mhz, tapos with 2 memory banks, pero only 1 slot is occupied.

2gigs lang kasi memory niya, tapos on-board pa yung video, so I plan on buying an additional 2 gigs of memory (para 4 gigs na siya) and a separate PCI-E video card.

Problem is, bakit yung nakikita kong dual channel memory sa websites 2 sticks? Paano pa kakasya yun eh only one memory bank is available? Puwede ba pag-haluin yung dual and single channel memory modules? Baka kasi mali ang mabili ko, sayang lang ang pagod.

Baka may PC techies dyan, patulong naman.

[ghosthunter]

Try Google...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

[oj88]

You can't run dual-channel with just one stick of RAM. You'll need at least a pair of identical sticks to make it work. Otherwise, it's running in single channel mode only.

[rion]

a single stick will always be a single channel. don't be confused, any pair of identical ddr2 will give you dual channel. as long as the mobo supports dual channel. dual channel kit are just marketing hype.

[aga_cruz]

search mo muna sa google baka di supported ng board mo yung 4 gig or ram

[oj88]

search mo muna sa google baka di supported ng board mo yung 4 gig or ram

It supports it. (2 x 2GB)

[Galactus]

Thanks for the replies. Medyo nalito kasi ako sa terminology. My mobo (MSI MS-7525) can support dual channel, pero I guess since 1 stick lang nakasaksak, single channel mode nga lang siya.

[Horsepower]

bili ka na lang ng isa pang 2Gb stick and it will switch to dual channel.

if you're using a 32-bit OS, you'll only see 3.5gb though.

[squatt3r]

just make sure that the RAS/CAS timings nung additional memory module na bibilhin mo ay pareho nung naka-install sa desktop mo. you'll be able to quickly see yung RAS/CAS timings using cpu-z

[Macmon]

try to download the free utility CPU-Z
Makikita ninyo ang slots available and slots used in the utility and what type ang memory so you can state that when buying another RAM

[Galactus]

Ngek. I researched a little more on the practicality of having 4gigs of RAM on a 32-bit OS. (Am currently using 32-bit Vista sa house). Maximum addressable memory space pala niya is only 4gigs, tapos shared pa with other add-on cards with memory (vid/sound cards, etc), kaya sometimes 3.2gigs na lang ang available.

Hindi rin daw better alternative ang pag-upgrade to 64-bit OS, since medyo buggy pa ang 64-bit Vista, and the lack of drivers to support both hardware and software.

So I guess I'm better off buying a video card na lang muna.

*Macmon: Thanks for the tip. I already downloaded that utility.

[oj88]

Hindi rin daw better alternative ang pag-upgrade to 64-bit OS, since medyo buggy pa ang 64-bit Vista, and the lack of drivers to support both hardware and software.

That's probably true if the year was 2007. I have Vista Ultimate x64 and never EVER had a problem with drivers, or bugs for that matter. And I'm into connecting a lot of stuff on my PC too (ie. digital camera, scanner, printer, Logitech wheel, iPod, Garmin eTrex (serial) and Nuvi (USB), smartphone and even a PCI cable-TV card. You'll be surprised how much driver support Vista x64 has now.

Heck, this is even more rock-solid than the WinXP SP3 I had before this.

Though, I admit that Vista is not the best OS in terms of efficiency. But since Windows 7 is promised to deliver what Vista didn't, I'm sticking to Vista x64 for now until Windows 7 becomes retail.

[s_quilicot]

Ngek. I researched a little more on the practicality of having 4gigs of RAM on a 32-bit OS. (Am currently using 32-bit Vista sa house). Maximum addressable memory space pala niya is only 4gigs, tapos shared pa with other add-on cards with memory (vid/sound cards, etc), kaya sometimes 3.2gigs na lang ang available.

Hindi rin daw better alternative ang pag-upgrade to 64-bit OS, since medyo buggy pa ang 64-bit Vista, and the lack of drivers to support both hardware and software.

So I guess I'm better off buying a video card na lang muna.

*Macmon: Thanks for the tip. I already downloaded that utility.

same pala tayo bro.

two 2GB ram ddr2 667 = 4GB pero 3.2 lang lumabas.