RAM help

**pevergreen** · 09-17-2009, 00:29

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** · 09-17-2009, 01:07

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** · 09-17-2009, 02:05

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** · 09-17-2009, 17:01

Originally Posted by pevergreen

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.

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** · 09-17-2009, 23:45

Hrmmm Alright.

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

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** · 09-18-2009, 00:59

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.

**pevergreen** · 09-18-2009, 01:08

Hooray!

Thanks for the help Tellos.

**Beskar** · 09-18-2009, 08:58

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** · 09-18-2009, 13:23

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** · 09-19-2009, 06:46

She runs like a dream...

I'm on the baby right now.

**Beskar** · 09-19-2009, 19:44

Very nice, which OS are you using?

**pevergreen** · 09-19-2009, 23:47

XP 64 bit.

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

**A1_Unit** · 09-28-2009, 19:38

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** · 09-28-2009, 21:50

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.