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General discussion

memory no running at full capacity

Oct 31, 2004 8:16AM PST

hi,
my computer had 512mb(2x256mb) dual channel DDR400(PC3200). I decided to upgrade it to 1.5Gb. I added 2x 512mb dimms(1024mb) of the same memory. I also consulted the dell owner's manual. For some reason the old memory alone works at 400Mhz and the new memory alone works at 400Mhz but as soon as I put them together the memory only works at 333Mhz. How do I get it to work at 400mhz? I tried having dims 1 and 2 with the 512 mb dimms and dimms 3 and 4 with the two 256mb dimms an currently have dimms 1 and 2 with the 256 and dimms 3 and 4 with the 512's.
thanks in advance

Discussion is locked

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In the mobos that I have seen
Oct 31, 2004 9:39AM PST

for Dual Channel the"matched" memories go into slots 1 and 3 and 2 and 4. On most mobos the slots have different colors. Put two sticks in one color and you are in single channel mode. Put one stick in one color and the other stick in the corresponding other color and you are dual channel.

Again the two dual channel sticks must be of the same "size" and type.

Seems that you are actually running single channel because the pairs are not matched. Why they only run at 333 may be a problem with the quality of one of the sets of sticks.

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Re: In the mobos that I have seen
Oct 31, 2004 11:30PM PST

thanks for the help but the sticks are correctly placed( to avoid confusion Dell numbered the dimms 1,3,2,4) i have to matched pairs of high quality memory in dims 1,2 and 3,4. when i just use any of 2 matched sticks at a time in dimms 1,2 the memory works at 400Mhz.

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Wow, I would get to Dell immediately
Nov 1, 2004 3:26AM PST

It seems as if the artwork on their mobo for the second memory channel can't support 400 MHz memory.

Keep in mind that the speed limitation over the years is the ability to make printed circuit artwork on the mobos effectively convey fast rise times over a few inches of artwork.

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DDR 400 on the new sticks?
Nov 1, 2004 9:38AM PST

Does the BIOS post screen show dual channel memory?
or words to that effect...

Check the BIOS set up that all 4 slots are enabled
to accept dual channel

Forget the numbers on the board. Ray has the correct answer. From left to right new, old, new, old.

Just some other things to look at...

Bill
.

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Re: DDR 400 on the new sticks?
Nov 1, 2004 8:42PM PST

thanks, when i go in the setup, it says the meory is running at dual channel and 333Mhz. my memory is setup new old new old. i just dont understand why if the new is in alone it works at 400 same as the old alone. anymore suggestions?

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Re: DDR 400 on the new sticks?
Nov 1, 2004 11:57PM PST