Upgrading ram

I have a T7700 processor, which I just yesterday noticed it has an 800mhz fsb. Now, my ram is only 667mhz fsb. I was considering buying 4gb (2gb x 2), and I have two questions:

1. Would I see an improvement from 667mhz fsb on ram to 800mhz, and can it be utilized since my cpu has 800mhz fsb (I don't know how ram is limited by the fsb)
2. I have XP 32-bit, I know not all 4gb would be read, but the ram will work right? (like the 3gb or so it does see)

 

I would suggest you get 3GB. Now you would like to install DDR2-800, do we have that for compal laptops? The ram controller must be 400MHz so you get the 800MHz out of your RAM.

 

I've seen an 800mhz ram on newegg (I think it was G.Skill brand, any good?). Also, I was considering just splitting the cost between me and my brother, because we both want more ram and can have 3gb by taking 2gb each. I have another question. If I did buy the 4gb, and put it in, and XP only reads 3gb, would my ram still be running dual channel?

 

If is a dual channel, of course.

 

Nvm my laptop can't utilize the full 800mhz, only 667.

(mines the red one, the 965)

 

That's what I thought, your RAM would be fine, but your RAM controller in the 965 chipset won't support it.

 

Last time I checked the dual channel doesn't work with sticks of different size.

 

How did you test the dual channel???????

 

One of the characteristic of dual-channel is that it requires 2 sticks with the same capacity.

 

Ok, I didn't know that, but I have to ask oyu this question, have you ever realized or heard a big difference in response compared to no dual channel? I'm saying this because I haven't read anything on those lines.

 

I know that the ram has to be the same size and timing, but I meant if I had 2 2GB sticks, would it be dual channel even though only 3/4gb is being read? And you use cpu-z to see if it's dual channel.

 

Yes, we can see that is dual with cpu-z, but how do you test the performance to compare with a no dual channel.

I would say if they are the same size based in what Ayle said, it should be fine even if Vista 32 doesn't recognize the 4G, I must imagine that it does it in a symetrical way and not in a serial way, in other words I don't think Vista uses the memory in order, one stick at the time, but I could be wrong.

 

One problem: I don't have vista, I have XP 32-bit lol. From what I know, I think there should be no problem with XP running it in dual channel because the specs are the same, but I don't know what it'll think about the left over 1gb.

 

Yeah, I have the same problem, I have 4G, and 1G is lost in space.

 

Technically it should as the dc is hardware based. The os shouldn't influence it.

 

The dual channel is not part of mobo, is built into the RAM, so it is software dependant.

 

Dual channel is a feature of the memory controller, the ram has nothing to do with it. It increase memory bandwidth. It is definetely not software dependant.

 

Well, where is the memory controller as per you?

 

In the northbridge.

 

That's correct, but the dual channel mem is not the same than a no-dual channel, so the dual channel mem must have something inside to make it deifferent, that is extra hardware that is controlled by software.

 

I apologize, you were right the mobo must have the right dual memory controller. So does it means that any memory can be used? So why do we call them dual memory?????

Anyway, I found this good white paper about the subject.

http://www.google.com/search?source...S244&q=how+does+the+dual+channel+memory+works

 

Dual memory, meaning two ram sticks, working simultaneously with the same ram timings to output higher bandwidth.

 

But, if is the controller who does all the job, why do we make a difference between dual and the no-dual memory?

 

Because it can now use the mems for input data and output data.

 

Explain please, to me any ram input and output data.

 

Please read this document.

 

Ok, I'll read it, thanks.