Is dual channel a waste of time for me?

NeilF

NeilF

NeilF

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So looking to get some memory for my old Shuttle SN45G (PC3200/DDR400).

Only need 1GB so just a single card, or would 2x512mb actually be worth the effort?

I seem to have heard mixed things and dual DDR?


Further more, should I really concern my self with memory timings? CL3, CL2.5? Or is it all irrelevant?
 
I seem to have heard mixed things and dual DDR?
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Dual channel and tighter timings are always faster yes (there is no debate about it, they ARE) but if all you do on the shuttle is browse the web then it doesn't matter.

If on the other hand you want to squeeze every ounce of performance from an old machine then it would be wise to go dual. The size of performance difference depends on the CPU and tasks involved.
 
when dual channel came out, i seem to remember there being a 5-15% performance boost over a single stick

if it's not the main pc, and just for internet etc, you won't notice the difference, take the cheapest option.
 
OK, thanks! It's mainly just used as a server, and for browsing/email, so never used as a real work horse!

Also, will any DDR400 memory do? Or do I need to be concerned about DDR vs DDR2 in my case?
 
NeilFawcett said:
So looking to get some memory for my old Shuttle SN45G (PC3200/DDR400).

Only need 1GB so just a single card, or would 2x512mb actually be worth the effort?

I seem to have heard mixed things and dual DDR?


Further more, should I really concern my self with memory timings? CL3, CL2.5? Or is it all irrelevant?
Click to expand...


NO, not a waste of time.

On the 1st Dual Channel Controllers on Nvidia NF2 Mobo' there was a 12% gain MAX going by peeps findings over the years).

Later on the Nvidia Mobos with AMD 64 CPU's with the Memory Controller on the CPU it was near as damn 100% gain.

Intel are finally putting a Memory Controller on their new CPU (they before that could not touch AMD for Memory Bandwidth or Latency) and its Triple Channel now. ;)
 
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The AMDs don't need dual channel so much, especially if your only using it for web browsing or so... but the Pentium 4 really gained in performance from dual channel - infact running a Pentium 4 in single channel is just plain stupid imo.

With older AMD rigs just get some nice tight timings and the difference in performance between dual and single channel isn't huge.
 
Also, will any DDR400 memory do? Or do I need to be concerned about DDR vs DDR2 in my case?
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That shuttle is socket-A (AMD XP era) is it not?

There is no socket-A motherboard in existance that supports DDR2 (if you find one, no, you don't win a cookie). They (DDR types) are not pin compatible (though there are a few boards that have two kinds of slots, DDR & DDR2 or DDR2 & DDR3).

I'd suggest you just get a known brand stick of DDR, like Corsair. Stay well clear of those super-cheap high density chips sold (mostly) by dodgy sellers that don't work in many mobos.

http://www.corsair.com/configurator/default.aspx
 
Tetras said:
That shuttle is socket-A (AMD XP era) is it not?

There is no socket-A motherboard in existance that supports DDR2 (if you find one, no, you don't win a cookie). They (DDR types) are not pin compatible (though there are a few boards that have two kinds of slots, DDR & DDR2 or DDR2 & DDR3).

I'd suggest you just get a known brand stick of DDR, like Corsair. Stay well clear of those super-cheap high density chips sold (mostly) by dodgy sellers that don't work in many mobos.

http://www.corsair.com/configurator/default.aspx
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LOL! The pair of (second-hand) Corsair 512mb DDR400s I bought off the members market both show faults on my Shuttle :)

Hence my confusion, and questions in this thread... I don't want to buy another gig of ram to find out it has problems for some reason as well...
 
What kind of faults? Are the sticks dud?

Value or XMS?

You shouldn't have any problem at default settings supported by the mobo/CPU. I've never had any issue with Corsair memory in a number of AMD XP and 64 rigs, they use common chips.
 
Tetras said:
What kind of faults? Are the sticks dud?

Value or XMS?

You shouldn't have any problem at default settings supported by the mobo/CPU. I've never had any issue with Corsair memory in a number of AMD XP and 64 rigs, they use common chips.
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I have two 256mb dimms which run fine and test fine in memtest86.

I plugged in the two corsair value 512mb cards (in a pair, and individually) and all tests came back with errros in memtest86. I first got suspicious about them when I started getting blue screens of death in XP.
 
Ran on their own, not with the 2 x 256 yes? If so then it sounds like a faulty pair... Incompatbility or configuration issues are possible but unlikely imo.
 
Tetras said:
Ran on their own, not with the 2 x 256 yes? If so then it sounds like a faulty pair... Incompatbility or configuration issues are possible but unlikely imo.
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Yes, I tried the two corsairs in a pair, and on their own, in each slot, and always got errors back from Memtest86. Just surprised that BOTH would have a problem?

Running everythign at stock so can't imagine it's a compatability issue!? So yuo can see my concerns at buying another pair of 512mb ddrs!
 
are they set to run at 'SPD' in the bios?

try upping the voltage by 0.1 for the bluescreening ram sinks..

as said above, you can't use DDR2 in a DDR1 board or vice versa
 
bledd. said:
are they set to run at 'SPD' in the bios?

try upping the voltage by 0.1 for the bluescreening ram sinks.
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From my little look at the bios settings, it's set to run at 'optimal'... I don't believe you can change voltage etc...
 
Yes, I tried the two corsairs in a pair, and on their own, in each slot, and always got errors back from Memtest86. Just surprised that BOTH would have a problem?

Running everythign at stock so can't imagine it's a compatability issue!? So yuo can see my concerns at buying another pair of 512mb ddrs!
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I understand your concern but only a limited number of chips are used on all ddr memory (ddr, ddr2 whatever) so you could feasibly buy another brand / stick size and have the exact same issue. Corsair value/xms uses common chips that are tested for compatibility (at the time), making that kind of problem very rare.

If Corsair VS doesn't work I wouldn't want to recommend anything else.
 
Tetras said:
I understand your concern but only a limited number of chips are used on all ddr memory (ddr, ddr2 whatever) so you could feasibly buy another brand / stick size and have the exact same issue. Corsair value/xms uses common chips that are tested for compatibility (at the time), making that kind of problem very rare.

If Corsair VS doesn't work I wouldn't want to recommend anything else.
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Tell you what, I should be able to plug that DDR400 memory into my main system (P4PE motherboard - DDR333) and I'll run memtest on it there... If it shows any problems that will show 100% that it's the sticks...

If it doesn't then I suspect the sticks are still at fault, but the problems are just at 400mhz speed!
 
Tetras said:
Do they work when set at 333 Mhz? You sure the mobo in the shuttle supports 400?
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What do you think that would prove?

As for my SN45G:-
2 184-pin DIMM sockets, Maximum of 2GB of DDR200/266/333/400 SDRAM

The current memory is 2x256 DDR400 dimms... Infact when running memtest86 the existing Twinmos memory, and the Corsair memory (that's failing) came up with exactly the same spec/description.
 
Tetras said:
Ok, I don't know what to suggest then but I can't see any reason why what you already have wouldn't work.
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The Corsair DDR400 memory ran through OK on a quick memtest86 on my P4PE system at a slower clock speed!

When I have a moment I'll try it back on the Shuttle SN45G at 333 instead of 400...
 
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