Dual channel memory

[bob123]

Anyone tried dual channel memory? Apparently its supposed to offer a 10% increase in bandwidth. Im thinking about building a new system and wondered whether its worth investing in dual channel rather than single? Im not sure whether a 10% increase in bandwidth justifies the greater cost of the dual channel kits.

[DjSatansfury]

Or just buy 2 slots of the same memory and see if your mobo is dual channel, and put them in, like mine?

[Ciaran]

How much extra you paying for a dual chanel kit? The ones I've seen it costs ?1-?2 more to buy a dual channel kit.

[Inertia_]

I've used dual channel for a while now, first in my old tower and now in my shuttle.

Can't say I run many benchmarks to establish the real results but my experiences with general performance have been seemingly much smoother. I'd recommend it as a matter of course, tbh.

[bob123]

How much extra you paying for a dual chanel kit? The ones I've seen it costs ?1-?2 more to buy a dual channel kit.

...But dont you have to pay more for a compatible mobo (uh oh, starting to think that i perhaps dont really know how dual channel memory works!?!? Any help?)

[Ciaran]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/feature_dualddr.html

That should explain it for you

[bob123]

thanks for the link ciaran!! That explains the theory behind it well. But in practice, when building a new system, am i right in saying that:

U only need to get a mobo that is compatible with dual channel memory?

That the actual memory cards are the same ones used for single channel?

Graphics cards, cpu's etc do not need to be dual channel enabled?

[DjSatansfury]

Just the mobo needs to be dual channel enabled

Currently i have a Abit NF7-S which is dual channel enabled. I have x2 sticks of DDR433 256mb Ram in dual channel mode. They are 2 identical pairs of ram, i.e. same speed and manufacturer, but i did not by them in a "paired bundle"

To enable dual channel mode is a peice of piss, just have to put the 2 memory banks in the slots specified in the mobo manual, and thats it

[bob123]

anyone else have any dual channel mobo recommendations? Im thinking about getting an athlon 64 so need one compatible with that.

[Super Stu]

a64 supports dual channel? I fancy someone said it wouldn't.

[nigel1210]

a64 supports dual channel? I fancy someone said it wouldn't.

socket 939 boards support dual channel.

[Super Stu]

Ah, must have been a 764 thing. This was a few months back.

[bob123]

socket 939 boards support dual channel.

hmm, couldnt find a s939 mobo that supported dual channel. All of those that i found were s775 which is P4 compatible?? are you sure?

[csuzw]

I have a Socket 939 board with dual channel - at least I thought I did - Asus A8V

[bob123]

I have a Socket 939 board with dual channel - at least I thought I did - Asus A8V

just checked the asus A8V's. They are s939 but i dont think they are dual channel enabled?? see below, its only DDR400, not dual chan?

Abit AV8 3rd Eye VIA K8T800 Skt 939 1000FSB DDR400, 8x

AGP, SATA RAID, 6ch Audio, GB LAN, USB2, F/Wire ATX

I think that if you want dual channel, u cant get the ath64, which ive heard is the better and more future proof CPU. But im not sure if thats worth sacrificing for a 10% increase in memory bandwidth?