ASUS P5E3 Deluxe memory question

[tomservo]

I'm looking into getting this mb...built many a computer in the past but it's been a few years and all the different memory types/etc./etc. are starting to get confusing...

So...I am planning on getting this MB with a QX9770 and use Corsair XMS3 1600 Mhz memory.

I am planning on using this with XP SP3...so I know I'm really limited to 3 Gigs of memory...I don't want to waste money.

I looked at the QVL PDF and even it is somewhat confusing. It says I can use two of the chips in dual channel. It says I can use 1 chip in single channel.

Can I do both? Can I put in a dual channel set as well as one more to give me 3 Gigs?

What I find most strange is even though the board has 4 slots this PDF almost seems to be saying you can't use all 4 which confounds me:

Supports 4 modules inserted into both the orange and black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory configuration

is set to N/A.

Any help would be appreciated.

[atmadden]

I'm looking into getting this mb...built many a computer in the past but it's been a few years and all the different memory types/etc./etc. are starting to get confusing...

So...I am planning on getting this MB with a QX9770 and use Corsair XMS3 1600 Mhz memory.

I am planning on using this with XP SP3...so I know I'm really limited to 3 Gigs of memory...I don't want to waste money.

I looked at the QVL PDF and even it is somewhat confusing. It says I can use two of the chips in dual channel. It says I can use 1 chip in single channel.

Can I do both? Can I put in a dual channel set as well as one more to give me 3 Gigs?

What I find most strange is even though the board has 4 slots this PDF almost seems to be saying you can't use all 4 which confounds me:

Supports 4 modules inserted into both the orange and black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory configuration

is set to N/A.

Any help would be appreciated.

If you don't want to waste money for a start you can save £500 on the cpu by getting a new oem QX9650 off ebay for around £400. If you only plan to run at stock you can just put the settings in manually the same as the QX9770.

[tomservo]

If you don't want to waste money for a start you can save £500 on the cpu by getting a new oem QX9650 off ebay for around £400. If you only plan to run at stock you can just put the settings in manually the same as the QX9770.

Okay...and that makes sense. I will probably do just that. However, I still need my main question about 3 Gigs of memory answered.

Or...should I just go with 2? Is there enough difference between 2G and 3G with XP to make it worthwhile?

[kinetic]

I would say that 2 gig running in dual channel mode will be absolutely fine and arguably faster than 3 gig in single channel.

[tomservo]

I would say that 2 gig running in dual channel mode wil be absolutely fine and arguably faster than 3 gig in single channel.

Thanks...guess I should have read up on what exactly dual-channel was before posting, eh? (I have now and understand). Will go for the 2 gigs. Thanks a ton.

[geekbloke]

The manual that came with the MB wasnt correct in stating dimm b1 & b2 for dual channel.
The latest manual downloaded from the asus website corrects this, its the orange pair of slots A1 & B1, bear that in mind if only using a single pair.