Dual Channel Memory
07 December 2006, 10:17 PM
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Dual Channel Memory
Just got myself a new MSI P965 Platinum Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Duo Processor...
I am now looking at some memory for it, I want to put 1Gb of RAM on the board (looking at these - Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK) but whats this Dual Channel stuff all about? Is it faster? Do I have to have 2x sticks installed?
The above memory is 800Mhz so will 1x of these run at that speed? Or will I need to have 2x 512Mb sticks so it runs in Dual Channel which will then give me 800Mhz?
Oh and one last question
what do these figures mean "CAS 5-5-5-12" or "CAS 4-4-4-12, EPP"
Thanks
I am now looking at some memory for it, I want to put 1Gb of RAM on the board (looking at these - Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK) but whats this Dual Channel stuff all about? Is it faster? Do I have to have 2x sticks installed?
The above memory is 800Mhz so will 1x of these run at that speed? Or will I need to have 2x 512Mb sticks so it runs in Dual Channel which will then give me 800Mhz?
Oh and one last question
what do these figures mean "CAS 5-5-5-12" or "CAS 4-4-4-12, EPP"Thanks
07 December 2006, 11:40 PM
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I've just got that motherboard. It implies in the manual that the RAM has to be fitted in pairs, but doesn't actually say so. Some motherboards will ahppily work in single channel mode.
(Simplified) the dual channel means that it drives the channels of memory separately, so it can minimise memory read delays by reading one channel while the other is being made ready to read.
1GB as 2 x 512MB sticks will be slightly faster than 1 x 1GB stick because of that. I'd go with 2 modules. (I put 2 x 1GB in mine).
John.
(Again simplified) the CAS numbers are how many timing pulses the memory needs between being asked for some data and until it's available to be read.
John.
(Simplified) the dual channel means that it drives the channels of memory separately, so it can minimise memory read delays by reading one channel while the other is being made ready to read.
1GB as 2 x 512MB sticks will be slightly faster than 1 x 1GB stick because of that. I'd go with 2 modules. (I put 2 x 1GB in mine).
John.
(Again simplified) the CAS numbers are how many timing pulses the memory needs between being asked for some data and until it's available to be read.
John.
11 December 2006, 06:53 PM
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Ah one other question about the board, did you plug in all 3 power connectors in as well as the PCI-E Graphics card power (directly on the card) i.e. the 24/20 pin ATX connector & 12v 4 Pin Power Connectors (JPWR2) & (JPWR3).
In the manual it says the JPWR3 connector provides power to the graphics card for stable operation. I just don’t want to plug this one in as well as the power connector directly on the PCI-E card and fry something!
In the manual it says the JPWR3 connector provides power to the graphics card for stable operation. I just don’t want to plug this one in as well as the power connector directly on the PCI-E card and fry something!
12 December 2006, 12:43 AM
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Put it this way, I have an Asus board with dual channel memory. 2 x 1gig sticks
The one RAM stick failed. I removed it so now only have one. The system works. So I can conclude that its not fussy, but having two sticks installed will make the system quicker.
One thing the manual does stae, is that all sticks of RAM should be of the same spec and size for "optimum performance". Something to bear in mind with future upgrades
The one RAM stick failed. I removed it so now only have one. The system works. So I can conclude that its not fussy, but having two sticks installed will make the system quicker.
One thing the manual does stae, is that all sticks of RAM should be of the same spec and size for "optimum performance". Something to bear in mind with future upgrades
12 December 2006, 10:21 AM
#6
youll find most dual channel motherboards colour coded for a reason, these are the 2 channels. To get dual channel performance, fill in one colour then you can fill in the other. Eg i've got (2x1Gb) & (2x512mb) Filling the 2 dual channels also enables the performance mode
12 December 2006, 05:07 PM
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As stated above, running dual channel should be ever so slightly faster.
Lower latency ram timings (i.e. lower numbers in the 4-4-4-12 etc.) will also be ever so slightly faster...
Lower latency ram timings (i.e. lower numbers in the 4-4-4-12 etc.) will also be ever so slightly faster...
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13 December 2006, 12:44 AM
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Thanks for your help guy's, I ended up getting a pair of these - Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
Got the new beast up and running now, must say its nice and nippy Dual Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz, Nvidia 7950GT, 320Gb SATA II Hard Disk etc.
One question for John (as you have the same board as me ) I have a IDE DVD Writer plugged in and the only way I could get it detected was to have the RAID controller enabled and set to IDE, both SATA channels are set to "enhanced". I played around with all the settings but as soon as I disable the RAID controller it fails to detect my DVD Drive, did you experience any problems like this? or more to the point is this the correct way to set it in the BIOS?
Thanks
Got the new beast up and running now, must say its nice and nippy
Dual Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz, Nvidia 7950GT, 320Gb SATA II Hard Disk etc.One question for John (as you have the same board as me
) I have a IDE DVD Writer plugged in and the only way I could get it detected was to have the RAID controller enabled and set to IDE, both SATA channels are set to "enhanced". I played around with all the settings but as soon as I disable the RAID controller it fails to detect my DVD Drive, did you experience any problems like this? or more to the point is this the correct way to set it in the BIOS?Thanks
Last edited by stiscooby; 13 December 2006 at 12:47 AM.
13 December 2006, 09:32 AM
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I've only used mine so far with SATA drives (I got a new SATA DVD writer to go with it), so I'm not sure how it behaves with IDE stuff. I'll be finding out though - I've got a IDE hard drive that I use for storage that I've yet to plug in.
Actually, thinking about it, I've not even been into the BIOS yet; everything has worked fine without touching it.
John.
Actually, thinking about it, I've not even been into the BIOS yet; everything has worked fine without touching it.
John.
13 December 2006, 08:14 PM
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Ah ok thanks for the response.
If you happen to get a IDE drive working I wouldn't mind knowing how you done it because I have also tried connecting up my old IDE drive to copy my data off it but cant seem to get that working correctly either
If you happen to get a IDE drive working I wouldn't mind knowing how you done it because I have also tried connecting up my old IDE drive to copy my data off it but cant seem to get that working correctly either
14 December 2006, 09:00 AM
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You might not like this... I plugged my IDE HDD in and it worked first time.
I had a quick nosy in the bios, but don't remember changing anything.
John.
I had a quick nosy in the bios, but don't remember changing anything.
John.
14 December 2006, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by stiscooby
Ah ok thanks for the response.
If you happen to get a IDE drive working I wouldn't mind knowing how you done it because I have also tried connecting up my old IDE drive to copy my data off it but cant seem to get that working correctly either
If you happen to get a IDE drive working I wouldn't mind knowing how you done it because I have also tried connecting up my old IDE drive to copy my data off it but cant seem to get that working correctly either
14 December 2006, 09:36 PM
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Thanks for the reply's I got it sorted in the end. For some reason I think the RAID controller has to be enabled and set to IDE then when the PC boots it goes past the BIOS screen and then displays the RAID controller BIOS screen, here it then displays my IDE Hard Disk & DVD.
I think this is how it is set by default so I probably didn't need the change anything in the first place. I might have had a jumper set incorrectly or something?
I don't know how things would work if I was using the RAID controller for RAID but hey I ain't so im not too bothered
I think this is how it is set by default so I probably didn't need the change anything in the first place. I might have had a jumper set incorrectly or something?
I don't know how things would work if I was using the RAID controller for RAID but hey I ain't so im not too bothered
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