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    Does 3gb Ram run in dual channel?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by WileyCoyote, Feb 7, 2008.

  1. WileyCoyote

    WileyCoyote Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey all
    Just bought a xps 1530 with 3gb ram stock. Been hearing the whole business of superior dual channel memory performance. The question is, can you have a 3 gb dual channel memory setup. I know some manufacturers set up 3gb dual channel memory in their notebooks. So does anyone know if dell does? How can I check/set up the configuration myself.
     
    WileyCoyote, Feb 7, 2008
    #1
  2. MYK

    MYK Newbie NBR Reviewer

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    No, it doesn't. But the bottom line is 3GB is better than 2GB, regardless.
     
    MYK, Feb 7, 2008
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  3. SideSwipe

    SideSwipe Notebook Virtuoso

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    to be more clear, in order to have dual channel, both channel A and B have to at least have the same size RAM
     
    SideSwipe, Feb 7, 2008
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  4. klutchrider

    klutchrider Notebook Evangelist

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    Depends on how picky the motherboard is. Some want same kind of timing on the RAM *essentially the same sticks of ram* but yes same size for Symmetric Dual Channel. 3GB *2GB + 1GB* puts it in Asymmetric Dual Channel or whatnot.

    But what the 2nd poster stated. 3GB > 2GB
     
    klutchrider, Feb 7, 2008
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  5. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Read the dual channel RAM thread and then test and see if you get similar results.

    I'm not sure how it works, but in my experience 3GB runs fine.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Feb 7, 2008
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  6. Lappie

    Lappie Notebook Consultant

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    What about 2x 2g for dual ch 4GB configured in XP x64 to use only 3g or 3.5g?

    I do know in desktop performance, the dual ch performance was always greater then single, especially at same size and speed. 3gb was usually achieved by using 2x 1g + 2x 512mb dual ch. This scored better then the 2g +1g single ch.

    I remember the best place to see this was on the old nVidia nForce 2 AGP chipset wth only 3 RAM slots of DDR1. Dropping the 3rd stick gave you more of RAM but scores were not as great.
     
    Lappie, Feb 7, 2008
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  7. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    3gb will be dual-channel (at least for 2gb of it)... see the dual-channel ram guide that John Ratsey linked to.
     
    swarmer, Feb 7, 2008
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