I've already posted this question - but I want to make it clearer so I'm re submitting it. I haven't read a suitable response for this question elsewhere in the forums.
I want to know if matching the RAM to dual channels in the motherboard will make a marked difference in performance.
At present, OCZ are scaling back production of DDR2 ram with a view to ending the current lines. This makes it difficult for me to achieve optimum system compatibility with my existing OCZ 2GB platinum RAM module.
My motherboard is an ASUS P5QL-Pro which is dual channel compatible for two separate dual channels of memory. If I mixed RAM from different manufacturers, but using the same speed would this lead to performance problems when inserting the RAM into the 2nd channel of the dual channels?
There are two sets of dual channels in my mobo. This would mean for optimum system performance I would ideally have 1 set of 2 x 2 GB matching RAM in one of the dual channels and 1 set of 2 x 2 Gb in the other existing dual channel.
Does matching RAM make that much difference?
Or put another way, can the system utilise two different RAM modules to achieve dual channel functionality without the RAM modules being exactly the same model?
Or, to put it another way...
If I put 1 x 2 GB Kingston, 1 x 2GB Crucial, 1 x 2 GB Corsair and 1 x 2 GB OCZ inside the available slots, will my motherboard choose to ignore dual channel and run well? Will it still run as 2 x dual channel pairs even with the difference in manufacturer?
I am aware that the RAM modules should be the same frequency and speed to run well (eg. all the RAM will have to be running at 800mhz). I am also aware of the latency and timings that RAM modules from the same manufacturer and model have. I am also vaguely aware of changing timings using bios settings - however, I am dealing with this question at a consumer - rather than enthusiast or overclocker - level.
This is a matter of cost as well as compatibility. It is cheaper to buy other manufacturers RAM now that there are less OCZ platinum modules on the market. It may even be impossible to purchase these modules soon so I am wondering whether to sell my existing module and buy a whole new dual channel set. That is, if dual channel matched sets need to be as I have previously stipulated in this post.
So, does matching dual channel RAM matter? Can MOBO's that are dual channel compatible run dual channel without RAM modules matching? Should I get the abacus out of the loft and revert back to computing without a computer? I know I'm babbling now and there are far greater uses of time. Still these questions torment me and I have not been able to solve this one on my own.
Thanks for your knowledge and time in dealing with my question.
Is there
I want to know if matching the RAM to dual channels in the motherboard will make a marked difference in performance.
At present, OCZ are scaling back production of DDR2 ram with a view to ending the current lines. This makes it difficult for me to achieve optimum system compatibility with my existing OCZ 2GB platinum RAM module.
My motherboard is an ASUS P5QL-Pro which is dual channel compatible for two separate dual channels of memory. If I mixed RAM from different manufacturers, but using the same speed would this lead to performance problems when inserting the RAM into the 2nd channel of the dual channels?
There are two sets of dual channels in my mobo. This would mean for optimum system performance I would ideally have 1 set of 2 x 2 GB matching RAM in one of the dual channels and 1 set of 2 x 2 Gb in the other existing dual channel.
Does matching RAM make that much difference?
Or put another way, can the system utilise two different RAM modules to achieve dual channel functionality without the RAM modules being exactly the same model?
Or, to put it another way...
If I put 1 x 2 GB Kingston, 1 x 2GB Crucial, 1 x 2 GB Corsair and 1 x 2 GB OCZ inside the available slots, will my motherboard choose to ignore dual channel and run well? Will it still run as 2 x dual channel pairs even with the difference in manufacturer?
I am aware that the RAM modules should be the same frequency and speed to run well (eg. all the RAM will have to be running at 800mhz). I am also aware of the latency and timings that RAM modules from the same manufacturer and model have. I am also vaguely aware of changing timings using bios settings - however, I am dealing with this question at a consumer - rather than enthusiast or overclocker - level.
This is a matter of cost as well as compatibility. It is cheaper to buy other manufacturers RAM now that there are less OCZ platinum modules on the market. It may even be impossible to purchase these modules soon so I am wondering whether to sell my existing module and buy a whole new dual channel set. That is, if dual channel matched sets need to be as I have previously stipulated in this post.
So, does matching dual channel RAM matter? Can MOBO's that are dual channel compatible run dual channel without RAM modules matching? Should I get the abacus out of the loft and revert back to computing without a computer? I know I'm babbling now and there are far greater uses of time. Still these questions torment me and I have not been able to solve this one on my own.
Thanks for your knowledge and time in dealing with my question.
Is there