RAM Confusions.

InKursion · 11 Jan 2007 at 16:31

Hey,

I recently purchased 2Gb GeiL dual-channel RAM from your store. It works very well and I am satisfied with the product

. However, I have another 1Gb dual-channel kit left over from my old system (that I also purchased from you), and I'm wondering if it would be of any use.

My motherboard has 4 slots for memory, which to me seems like capacity for 2x dual-channel kits. I'm simply wondering what are the problems/constraints with this, if I were to try and use two dual-channel kits simitaneously? Would the system start-up and run smoothly? I assume the RAM has to be the same frequency?

Chris Beard · 11 Jan 2007 at 17:13

The RAM does not have to be the same frequency, although they both have to be either DDR or DDR2 or whatever. The RAM will automatically run at the lower frequency.

Adding the extra RAM will probably lower performance but the best way to find out would be to try.

Please post details of your RAM and system before putting the old RAM in just to make sure everything is compatible.

Welcome to the forums. You know we're not all working for OCUK, right?

InKursion · 11 Jan 2007 at 18:58

Yep I'm aware you're all helpful none-OCuK staff. I just feel a slight bit guilty as I come to these Forums to ask for help rather than to make constructive posts or help other people

.

Both RAM kits are DDR. I have just purchased the GEIL 2Gb dual-channel kit from the website, which CPU-Z tells me is 201MhZ frequency. My old RAM was a 2x 512Mb Corsair Value kit (1Gb dual-channel). The chips identify it as VS512Mb400- which apparently is 400Mhz PC3200 memory. The Corsair page tells me this is a single 512Mb DIMM stick, but I originally bought it from OCuK in one of the older (now retired) full system set-ups as a dual-channel kit.

Don't know if that helps. Thanks for the posts.

Chris Beard · 11 Jan 2007 at 20:13

Sounds good. Bench your system using 3D Mark or similar (don't do a lot of benching so you may want to go looking for a memory benchmark or something) chuck the ram in the extra slots (with your computer off and unplugged from the mains obviously) boot it up and bench again.

Then play a game for a bit and see if you notice the difference.

My guess is you'll get a drop in performance.