Is 1530 stock 3gb Ram Memory Dual channel?

Hey all
been reading several post saying that stock 3gb memory doesn't run in dual channel while others have said yes.
So is the 1530 stock 3gb memory running in dual channel mode or not? Does anyone know how to check for such things on your laotop?
How drastic is the performance increase for dual channel memory anyways?

 

3GB of RAM should appear to running in an asymmetric dual channel configuration. CPU-z is a handy utility to use for such things, but for my machine it incorrectly states my RAM as running in symmetric dual channel.

I wouldn't worry about any performance loss when running 2+1GB, it's not a drastic difference in performance.

 

What do you think about upgrading to 2gb +2gb then. Im running Vista 32bit so theres no way for the system to recognize all 4gb of ram, will it still be worth it?

 

According to the M1530 User Manual, specifications, page 162:
Note: In order to take advantage of the dual channel bandwidth
capability, both memory slots must be populated and must match
in size.

According to the M1530 DSCE information on memory:
Memory modules must be installed as a perfectly matched pair to
take advantage of the dual-channel memory bus. If not a matched
pair, the system's memory bus operates in a single-channel
configuration.

This seems to be disputed a lot, due to "asymmetric dual channel"
capability versus "symmetric dual channel". The concensus is that
you will get some but not a lot of performance benefit from using
two 2GB matched pairs versus 2GB + 1GB. In reality mostly what
you are getting is a half GB more RAM (or 1GB using 64-bit OS).

 

Do You know what the performance diff between asymmetrical vs symmetrical dual channel config?

 

This is an ongoing argument all over the web. There is a "theory" aspect and a practical "application" aspect. According to some benchmarks that were done (not by me) there was only a small difference. However, benchmarks do not always reflect typical usage. I'll go back to what I said: you will get some (small) performance benefit with two 2GB matched pairs and some additional physical RAM (on 32-bit vista). If you really want to know, do your own benchmarks, test with the 2GB + 1GB and test with matched 2GB pairs. I will probably do that myself at some point, along with testing 7200rpm SATA HDD versus SSD performance.

 

considering your 32-bit OS will limit you to 3.5GB's. the extra 500mb's isnt worth the money that you'd spend on another 2GB stick. i don't think you'd gain anything in duel channel. Duel Channel on the intel isnt a big deal. your 3GB's should be plenty enough for your needs for awhile.

Personally, i don't think it's worth it. the money you'd spend just to get 500MB's of ram plus an extreamly small duel channel boost. that's IF it doesnt downclock them to match eachother to add up to 3.5GB.

 

Then again, RAM is cheap these days, so why not go for the 2x2GB sticks and get Dual Channel as a bonus?
Eventually, I dont know when, but more and more will go the 64bit route, since thats the only way to move on. Its the only way to recognise more memory, and so on, which is going to be needed in the future. If Vista needs 2GB to run nicely now, whats the next OS going to need, or the one after that?
As I said, RAM is cheap, I'd personally go for it.

 

On Intel's the bandwidth increase Dual vs Single about +10%. Asymmetric depends on the difference between stick sizes, 2GB +1GB about 3% less bandwidth, 2GB +512MB about 6-7% less bandwidth vs symmetric Dual Channel.