I have a question to any of the tech gurus in the community. I wanted to know how win 7 x64 bit accesses the ram slots. In the older versions of windows i think they only used 2 slots at a time.

If i have 2x2gb ddr3 atm and i buy 2 more sticks later on will win 7 x64 use all four slots at the same time or do I need to just buy 2x4gb sticks if upgrade?

My understanding is that the actual slot is really inconsequential to how the OS accesses the memory. If by older versions, you meant 32-bit operating systems, then it makes sense that you'd be limited by the 4GB addressing cap. In fact, I know that there wasn't a 2 slot software limit because at one point I had a 32-bit Windows install using 4x1GB sticks -- (yeah it only was able to address like 3 1/4 GB, but whatever).

I'd just make sure of the following:
-- Your motherboard supports the amount of memory you plan on installing
-- You install the memory in the recommended way for your motherboard -- like match the memory speed in slots 1,3 and 2,4 -- to realize the best performance.

With DDR3 you need to install the RAM in sets of 3.

Lies.

Was told*


I also heard you had to install DDR3 in pairs, so what do I know?

lol thx you guys, and yeah when I said older I was refering to 32bit. Win7 is the first 64bit os I have used so I just called it new, I should have clearafied that.

My mobo supports up to 8gb and I am planing on buying the same two stick kit I have now when I get some more cash.

You only need to install RAM in sets of 3 if you want to utilize triple channel bandwidth.

DDR2 and DDR3 can work in dual channel (sets of 2) or triple channel (sets of 3), but most motherboards are set to use DDR3 in dual/triple channel and DDR2 in single/dual channel mode.

Thanks for the specifics, that should help us all.

Sometimes you'll see sometihng like Memory: 8.00 GB (4.00 GB Usable) in System Properties, you'll have to adjust Memory Remap in your BIOS. Theres also a few settings I Can't recall right now, but make sure you're actually using all the RAM you pay for.

actually, u can only use ddr3 in triple channel mode if ur motherboard and cpu support it. im pretty sure only the core i7 series cpus can handle triple channel memory, but the i5s might be able to as well.

It depends on the boards memory controller.

That is all.

It doesn't have shit to do with the OS.

If it uses AMD's HyperTransport, it works differently than Intel's QuickPath I/O and whatnot.

Just find out what your motherboard supports and how it works, and you're golden.

Fixed.

♥

I catch so much shit for that saying....thank you.

also, PM, text, AIM, or steam msg me...I'll walk you through your RAM problem.