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    Whats the deal with dual channel 3GB laptops?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by therulebookman, Jan 23, 2008.

  1. therulebookman

    therulebookman Notebook Guru

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    Newegg doesn't sell 1.5 gig sticks of notebook ddr2. And I've never heard of a weird amount of ram like a 1.5gig stick or 768mb stick so whats up with the laptops I've seen advertised as "1.5x2 ddr2" memory, also advertised as "dual channel"? Are they just making stuff up, and its really 1x1gb and 1x2gb?
     
    therulebookman, Jan 23, 2008
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  2. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    I have never seen 1.5GBX2 advertised. I do see 3GB's Dual Channel advertised. It is 1x1gb and 1x2gb.
     
    powerpack, Jan 23, 2008
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  3. therulebookman

    therulebookman Notebook Guru

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    Maybe I dreamed that up, but 3GB dual channel would have to be 1.5x2. because matched pairs are required for dual channel, and 1x2gb + 1x1gb is not a matched pair. Or does it work differently than I am thinking?
     
    therulebookman, Jan 23, 2008
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  4. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    you would end up with 2GB in dual channel, and the last 1GB would be in single channel mode if using the proper chipset. So while technically not lying, not telling you the whole truth either.
     
    goofball, Jan 23, 2008
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  5. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    ^^^yes.

    Intel does call it Dual Channel, "flex" memory, also "asymmetric" Dual Channel.
     
    powerpack, Jan 23, 2008
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  6. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    The important thing is that 2GB + 1GB works fine. See this thread for some results. How it works is another matter which I haven't tried to understand.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jan 23, 2008
    #6