Dual channel

[1st timer]

good morning, it's still morning right?

I am up grading my RAM in preparation to installing Windows 7. currently running XP with a pentium 4 processor and 512MB physical memory in 2 of 4 slots (256+0+256+0). i need a 1 gig minimum for windows 7and i'm not sure of:
1. is this a dual channel?
2. if it is dual channel am i best off running (1gig+256mb+1gig+256mb) or (1gig+1gig+1gig+256mb) or a third configuration?

i've read a lot of different opinions and been advised differently by various salesman.

 

[o1die]

2 (1 gig) sticks + 2 (256meg) sticks should leave you in dual channel mode.

 

[apsolus]

Keep in mind the frequency of the memory you are buying, to get stable results I have always had to put the lower frequency in slots 1 and 3, so that the other modules are clocked down unless you feel like over clocking them. Over all from what info you gave, depending on the clock speeds of each module, the 1G - 256 - 1G - 256 would be what I do.

Installing Windows 7 on a Pentium 4 machine tho? Save up for a new machine and keep with XP you'll see better performance.

 

[1st timer]

thanks a lot, does the configuration matter, which slot gets which stick (1gig+ 256meg+1gig+256meg)?