Ram Slots: 2 vs 3

H

HybridHB

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
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Alright i have an NF7-S with 2x256 pc3500. I wanted to know if i should take a loss by selling my ram then buying 2 sticks of 512, or if i should just get a 512 stick and use the 3rd slot? I dont know how much more unstable using all 3 ram slots will make my pc. As of now im at 210 fsb with timings of 2-2-2-11 at 2.8v. Any opinions would be great. Also if you know 1024mb vs 512mb in games would even make a difference please fill me in. Thanks.
 
I dont think adding an extra 512MB stick is going to make your system unstable. Just run the 2x256 in dual channel and the 512MB in the extra slot. Just make sure the 512MB is the same speed and uses the same chips.
 
Originally posted by HybridHB
Alright i have an NF7-S with 2x256 pc3500. I wanted to know if i should take a loss by selling my ram then buying 2 sticks of 512, or if i should just get a 512 stick and use the 3rd slot? I dont know how much more unstable using all 3 ram slots will make my pc. As of now im at 210 fsb with timings of 2-2-2-11 at 2.8v. Any opinions would be great. Also if you know 1024mb vs 512mb in games would even make a difference please fill me in. Thanks.
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You're safe to run three sticks of different sizes and speeds. But remember that your other sticks will default to the lowest stick in your mobo. And you shouldn't run 2 sticks of 2700 and one stick of 2100 on a 333MHz bus. But I'm running that config, except my bus is 266MHz, so I'm fine.

Edit: And despite the contrary, if you run 3 sticks you'll retain the dual channel transfers. Remember: You have to occupy a minimum of two slots, after that, you can occupy 50 (if you have that many:D ) and you'll still be running dual channel mode.
 
Thanks guys. Ill move the 2x256 sticks to the balck slots and the 512 stick to the blue slot so each channel gets 512mb.
 
I had

256 <=dimm 1
512 <=dimm 2
256 <=dimm 3

pn mine ... no problems, dual channel DDR worked too ...
 
You can have 3 sticks in your mobo and still run in dual channel mode? :eek:

I wasn't aware of that
 
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