Epox 8RDA+ (NForce2) - anything special to enable dual channel ram?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue May 06, 2003 1:58 pm

The manual mentions that it supports dual channel memory. I see nothing specific to enable it though, not is it mentioned much in the manual.

I have two matching sticks of Mushkin Enhanced PC 2400 in slots 2 & 3 (the two that are sitting closer together.

The manual seems to imply ANY combination of slots will work - even three sticks (there's only 3 slots).

Someone enlighten me.... I would like to add another 512Mb so if I have the two sticks of 256Mb I have in there already and add a stick of 512, am I still running dual channel?

I'm not clear at all on this.

Thanks.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Tue May 06, 2003 2:05 pm

But this was posted earlier with some info.. GL eGo

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Tue May 06, 2003 4:31 pm

pretty sure that you can only run dual channel with matching sticks

the info is in one of these threads - couldn't find it offhand

http://www.amdforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=207538

NascarFool · Post by **NascarFool** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:18 pm

Wrong slots. From right to left, you need one stick in the right slot and the other can go in any one of the two slots that sit next to each other. Watch the boot screen as it boots up. It will say "Dual Channel Enabled". (something like that)

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:37 pm

It will say "Dual Channel Enabled". (something like that)

I believe it depends on which BIOS you are using to say that. My BIOS does not say that at boot up but I believe it is a feature on the newer bios. One of these days I'll get brave enough to flash mine. I believe you need a stick in the #1 ram slot and any of the other two and the dual channel is enabled automatically. If you use slots #2 & #3 it will not be. The slots are not spaced evenly also put one stick in the one that is kind of by itself and your second stick in one of the others and you should be good to go.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue May 06, 2003 7:46 pm

So to use dual channel you can only have two sticks in the system? Argh. Means I'll have to eventually go out and get two 512 sticks to replace the two 256 sticks I have now, but I can live with just 512 in the system for now. Nice having a gig for Photoshop though.

And yes they're matching sticks - two sticks of Mushkin Enhanced PC2400 with ram sinks. Going to try running the ram bus at 166 MHz to see what performance is like. Reviews I've read on this memory says it should go above 170 Mhz.

I'll be curious to see how much of a performance difference dual channel makes.

This time around I'm building a whole new rig (I usually just upgrade my old one). So it's going to sit on the workbench for a few weeks while I tweak and test until I'm happy with it. Only thing being kept from the old system is the DVD burner and the GF4 Ti4800.

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Tue May 06, 2003 8:25 pm

u can run 3 sticks of ram and still have dual channel. the 3 sticks don't need to match brand wise but it would be wise if they matched speed wise and latency wise... they say matched pairs work the best i've tried all sorts of mixed and matched and haven't had a bit of trouble with it.

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Tue May 06, 2003 8:48 pm

Also tho I have not tried it but I do believe you can use 3 sticks of ram and still use dual channel. Only the two sticks will run in the dual channel mode. Not sure how it works but I know I have read posts at AMDMB about people doing that.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed May 07, 2003 12:57 pm

I've got the sticks in the right sockets now and see the "Dual Channel Detected" message in the POST screen.

Unfortunately I just did a VERY stupid thing. When I moved the mobo into a case, I inadvertantly slid the HSF over so that it rode up on top of the ZIF socket and was only making partial contact on one edge of the core (also putting a lot of pressure on the edge of the core.

Didn't catch it (temp was reading okay in the POST screen) and tried to run some tests. Kept crashing on POST and in Docmemory and it took me a half hour - while it was cooking the whole time - to realize my mistake.

Dunno if I cracked it (didn't look like it) but it has a dark smudge along one edge of the core (like heat damage) and even with fresh artic silver and re-seating the HSF properly, it still locks in POST most times, and self-reboots in Docmemory.

Haven't done something that stupid in a while. Usually I'm a chronic paranoid about checking HSF alignment.

Oh well. Went ahead an ordered a retail XP2600+ from NewEgg for $105.

PCA Forums

Epox 8RDA+ (NForce2) - anything special to enable dual channel ram?

Epox 8RDA+ (NForce2) - anything special to enable dual channel ram?

Don't know if this helps..