Using all the DIMM Slots.

[Kev32]

I'm using the Asrock939Dual Mobo with soon to be 2x512mb of Infineon PC3200 RAM in the first dual channel. (Soon to be as I'm waiting for it to be returned to me after testing). I was curious on what the restrictions/incompatibilities that may arise if I use 2x512mb of Kingston PC3200 RAM in the other dual channel?

Thanks for any info!

[kalniel]

I've not tried 4 DIMMS on the ASRock in particular, but as with all 939s, the restrictions are actually more with the memory controller on your CPU. If you have a recent Venice chip there are hardly any restrictions, it will just run slightly looser RAM timings (no need to set this, 'auto' will do this fine) if at all.

If you have an earlier processor the DDR speed will have to drop down to 333 (from 400). Again on the ASRock board you don't have to do anything apart from leaving it on defaults.

[Kev32]

I've not tried 4 DIMMS on the ASRock in particular, but as with all 939s, the restrictions are actually more with the memory controller on your CPU. If you have a recent Venice chip there are hardly any restrictions, it will just run slightly looser RAM timings (no need to set this, 'auto' will do this fine) if at all.

If you have an earlier processor the DDR speed will have to drop down to 333 (from 400). Again on the ASRock board you don't have to do anything apart from leaving it on defaults.

Thanks for the quick response! I got the AMD 64 3500, same as my friend whose got his mobo using up all the DIMM slots and he's seen no perfomance loss at all. The CAS for the Kingston however is 3 whilst for the Infineon it's 2.5, that won't be a problem generally hey? Just bring the overall clock speed to 3?

[kalniel]

Yup it's no problem at all - the cas will set itself to 3 which you won't notice any difference with.

[Kev32]

Yup it's no problem at all - the cas will set itself to 3 which you won't notice any difference with.

Thanks for the info yet again! Just bought the 2 sticks That just leaves gfx and a newer heatsink....

[mattio]

what the point of running 4 sticks you are then running the system in 2t poinless with amd if you want more ram sell what u have then buy 2 gb in 2sticks then you have titer timings less for the memory controler to cope with and a faster running system

[kalniel]

With the ASRock dual sata2 you are running in 2T anyway, regardless of slots. Makes very little difference compared to the increase from having more ram (dependant on computer usage).

[herulach]

You also wont get dual channel, or i wouldnt put any money on it. You may if you set it up to have 768mb per channel, but its definately not a guarantee. Id certainly try it with just a gig and with all of it in, it depends what youre doing whether capacity or bandwidth is the most important factor.