How to Mix ram

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May 14, 2007
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Hi,
I am wondering if I can put 2 crucial 512 mB chips at PC3200 with 1 OCZ 1gB chip at PC2700 and 1 Samsung 512 mB chip also at PC2700 into a MSI RS480M2 motherboard.

The 2 crucial chips were purchased as a matched pair while the other 2 were not.

the manual for the motherboard says:
Each DIMM slot supports up to a
maximum size of 1GB. Users can install either single- or double-sided modules to meet their own needs. Users may install memory modules of different type and density on different-channel DDR DIMMs. However, memory modules of the same type and density are required while using dual-channel DDR, or instability may happen.

Thanks for any replies.
 
the manual for the motherboard says:

Each DIMM slot supports up to a
maximum size of 1GB. Users can install either single- or double-sided modules to meet their own needs. Users may install memory modules of different type and density on different-channel DDR DIMMs. However, memory modules of the same type and density are required while using dual-channel DDR, or instability may happen.
Didn't you answer your own question here? Your motherboard's manual tells you exactly what you asked, it says it'll work, just not in "dual-channel" mode.
 
I don't know what dual channel mode is and what the difference is and whether the ram chips I have are dual channel. Sorry for the lack of clarity.
 
No problem - "dual-channel" mode is a method of increasing memory bandwidth, theoretically doubling the rate. In the real world, you may notice a slight loss in performance by running only "single-channel" mode, but you probably won't. However, having 2.5GB instead of only 1GB can have many tangible bennefits if you do anything more than general office tasks. So I would go ahead and do it if I were you.

BTW - Welcome to THG
 
Thanks alot.

Just to clarify, I can just stick them (the new, unmatched ram chips) in and the motherboard will automatically configure the chips so they are in single channel mode and everything will be hunky-dory. Or do I need to change something in the BIOS setup to force the chips to work in single channel mode?
 
Thanks very much for the explaination!

Edit:Memory installed, System works well so far, and increase in performance is quite noticeable :)
 
Just a minor note to avoid possible future confusion: "chips" are the small silicon rectangles, whether "naked" or packaged inside plastic or ceramic rectangular packages with contacts or pins. What you were talking about are "DIMMs", small PC boards that each contain typically 8-16 memory chips, along with one or more smaller control chips.
Glad the upgrade is working well!