Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: arcooke on June 10, 2007, 12:17:49 AM

Title: 2 Questions: Dual Channel DDR and a Strange bootup issue
Post by: arcooke on June 10, 2007, 12:17:49 AM: A while back, I bought 2GB Dual Channel DDR400 RAM. Just recently, I've read that you have to enable dual channel mode, sometimes in the BIOS, sometimes by doing something on the mobo.

I just checked my mobo manual (PDF (http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Downloads/DownloadFile.aspx?catid=1&driverid=2772&areaid=2&LanID=9)) and it says almost nothing about dual channel mode... just a short footnote that says the memory has to be the same density and whatnot.

I checked my BIOS and saw no settings in any way related to single/dual channel memory. Is it safe to assume that dual channel mode is automatically enabled when identical memory sticks are put into the motherboard?

This is really bugging me. I feel like I might not be getting all the performance I could be, but I can't find any special instructions.

Now for my 2nd question. I recently upgraded to a 500GB SATA II hard drive from a crappy old 80GB ATA drive. My motherboard only supports SATA 1.5gb/s so I know I'm forced to run the HD in that mode, and that it does so by default. Anyway, ever since I put in the new hard drive, formatted, partitioned and reinstalled, I'm getting a strange issue when booting. If I shut the power off, and turn the computer back on, it hangs when trying to auto-detect my drives. It just sits there like it can't find anything. But if I hit the reset button while it's doing that, it boots just peachy. This ONLY happens when I turn it on (as in, not when I reboot). I have a feeling it has to do something with the SATA thing, maybe I configured it wrong or something. It's my first SATA drive so I wouldn't be surprised. I do, however, know for a fact my drives are displaying properly in the bios as SATA drives.

Anyway, that's been bugging me for a while as well.

Any ideas? Thanks! :P
Title: Re: 2 Questions: Dual Channel DDR and a Strange bootup issue
Post by: GX1_Man on June 10, 2007, 04:45:52 AM: Question 1 - If your motherboard does not support dual channel mode it doesn't matter what your RAM is. As you didn't post the motherboard model we are stuck there.

Question 2 - What is the make and model of the drive, and again, the motherboard?
Title: Re: 2 Questions: Dual Channel DDR and a Strange bootup issue
Post by: arcooke on June 10, 2007, 12:03:45 PM: My motherboard, according to the website, does support dual channel memory. Sorry about the lack of details, here's more info:

Motherboard: ECS K8T890-A (website (http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?detailid=510&DetailName=Specification&MenuID=1&LanID=9))

Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s

RAM: G.SKILL Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit

Thanks
Title: Re: 2 Questions: Dual Channel DDR and a Strange bootup issue
Post by: honvetops on June 10, 2007, 02:12:07 PM: this is a great example on hardware "upgrades"
Always "in my opinion" get the best mobo you can afford 1st*
then go cpu and etc......

Then always listen to what the G-man has to say !!!! :)
Title: Re: 2 Questions: Dual Channel DDR and a Strange bootup issue
Post by: arcooke on June 12, 2007, 11:12:39 PM: Sorry for the bump, but my topic was already halfway down the third page and I had a feeling it wasn't going to get seen again.

Any ideas about my questions anyone?
Title: Re: 2 Questions: Dual Channel DDR and a Strange bootup issue
Post by: Jess607 on June 13, 2007, 12:12:36 AM: Its not supposed to have the single channel or dual channel options - just install the RAM in the channel type you want. It should be fine.