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    3gb of ram..realy Dual Channel?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by WorldsApart, Mar 23, 2008.

  1. WorldsApart

    WorldsApart Notebook Enthusiast

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    I almost ready to buy the Vostro 1700 but I need some clarity on something.

    Dell has an option for 3gb of ram and it says its Dual channel, but ever since dual channel memory access has been available the ram slots had to be occupied with the same size memory chips. So is it realy Dual channel , or dell has some misinformation on their site?
     
    WorldsApart, Mar 23, 2008
    #1
  2. R4000

    R4000 Notebook Virtuoso

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    R4000, Mar 23, 2008
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  3. Fiah

    Fiah Notebook Guru

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    The first 2gb of ram run in dual channel like every normal 2gb configuration, the third gb runs in single channel. That is assuming that they have configured it with one 1gb module and one 2gb module.
     
    Fiah, Mar 23, 2008
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  4. WorldsApart

    WorldsApart Notebook Enthusiast

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    Would I be better off just buying 4gigs from newegg. even though it wont recognize all of it, but it would still be running in true dual channel mode?
     
    WorldsApart, Mar 23, 2008
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  5. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Asymetrical dual channel if 2+1gb sticks

    True dual channel on 2x2gb sticks. Performance increase on dual channel isnt all that

    But i do suggest 2x2gb because its cheap and futureproofing even if you dont run x64.
     
    flipfire, Mar 23, 2008
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  6. Fiah

    Fiah Notebook Guru

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    if you buy 4gb, the 3rd gb will also be running in dual channel. Whether or not you will be able to use all 4gb depends on if you're planning to use a 64bit OS. AFAIK the chipset that this laptop uses supports 4gb without problems
     
    Fiah, Mar 23, 2008
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  7. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    You are talking a 3% bandwidth reduction. Does that matter? Don't know, up to you. Read Sticky's
     
    powerpack, Mar 23, 2008
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  8. WorldsApart

    WorldsApart Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm going to get the 4gigs from newegg, but only because its a matter of cost, dell wants $125 just to upgrade to 3 gigs and I can get 4 gigs from newegg for $50.
     
    WorldsApart, Mar 23, 2008
    #8