RAM help

[pevergreen]

Alright, going to be purchasing stuff for my computer soon, and I'm in a bit of a confused state.

This is most likely the motherboard im going with : (Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6)
Its got the 6 ram slots, and its in dual channel format, I believe.
(# 6 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
# Dual channel memory architecture )

My question is, I must fill the 4 blue sockets with the same size and same speed of RAM, but what goes into the 3rd and 6th slots?

Lets say I buy this: Corsair HX3X12G1600C9 12GB (6x XMS3 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz)

Would I be able to just put all those in and have it work?

thanks,
pever.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Probably. Looks like a memory slot, located where one expects a memory slot and from what I see it looks to have exactly the same amount of pins (the dividers seem to be aligned equal for all 6 slots)... As far as performance goes, AFAIK 2 or 3 way lane controllers do not really make much of a difference that you are going to notice. Not with a ‘mere’ 12GB of memory (which so conveniently is divisible by 2 as well as 3).

3rd and 6th slot probably have a different rated performance. That is to say, the 3rd and 6th slot make up a dual-channel lane which is either to be preferred or to be avoided for optimum memory performance/reliability: this has to do with the inner workings of the memory controller & distance of the lane to the memory controller.

I'd imagine that in any case the manufacturer has a website on which you can download an owners' manual for the product and check in advance?

[pevergreen]

The six slots are, from top to bottom:

DDR3 3, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4

6 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules

That doesnt mean a whole lot to me

*********DDR3_3 DDR3_2 DDR3_1 DDR3_6 DDR3_5 DDR3_4
Six Modules SS ******SS *DS/SS ***SS ****SS **DS/SS

I think I need to check if that memory is single sided.

[Tellos Athenaios]

The six slots are, from top to bottom:

DDR3 3, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4


That is for the IKEA part of computer assembly: those numbers merely correspond to the numbers a manual may use (e.g. if it says for best performance/reliability configure slots 3 and 6 first then those 3 and 6 are the same 3 and 6 as the ones you listed).



6 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
Dual channel memory architecture

Means that you won't like it when you buy more than that amount of memory. :clown: Otherwise nothing to see there...



Support for DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules

Means no _official_ support for your 1600Mhz memory. <_<
EDIT: Didn't see the modules among the verified-to-work list either, which of course means even less.




That doesnt mean a whole lot to me

*********DDR3_3 DDR3_2 DDR3_1 DDR3_6 DDR3_5 DDR3_4
Six Modules SS ******SS *DS/SS ***SS ****SS **DS/SS

I think I need to check if that memory is single sided.

Right that is why the color codes are different, probably: DS/SS ones correspond to white & SS ones correspond to blue on your picture.

[pevergreen]

Hrmmm Alright.

Found a 1333, so that should be fine. Cheaper too :beam:

Do I have to set latency settings in the motherboard BIOS? I havent done anything like that before, and they've worked...

I have my case and motherboard (the one pictured above) (Case is an Antec 1200)

[Tellos Athenaios]

As you have to ask: no. BIOS auto-configuration of the hardware will 99% likely make your life and especially that of the components a lot happier if you don't touch those. :yes:

[pevergreen]

:grin2: Hooray!

Thanks for the help Tellos. :yes:

[Beskar]

Re-set CMOS though, which would auto-config it easier. I think the different colours work when you have less than 6 sections of RAM. In that case, you have to put the memory in select slots, for instance on my IP35 Pro, if I had two sticks, I have to either put them in 1 and 3, or 2 and 4. If I put them in 1 and 2, it really doesn't like it at all.

[pevergreen]

Yeah, I'll be following the motherboard manual on that.

I've got all my parts and will be building it tomorrow.

I guess I'll take pics.

[pevergreen]

She runs like a dream...:grin2: I'm on the baby right now.

[Beskar]

Very nice, which OS are you using?

[pevergreen]

XP 64 bit.

Only got 4gb of ram going right now, but it will be 12.

[A1_Unit]

Tell me how fast it is after you have your 12GB - I'm thinking lightning fast... (BTW will XP be able to handle that much RAM???)

[Husar]

Only a 64bit OS can handle that much. And I doubt it will be lightning fast, if you have enough RAM, you have enough, if he actually uses the 12GB it will be faster than if he had only 4 and tried to use 12 but a game that needs 2 should run almost exactly the same with 4 and 12.

[pevergreen]

Still havent upgraded to 12gb. Limiting factor will be speed of my HDD. 2x500gb WD green.