GA-7N400L dual channel question

[gibbon75]

I have a GA-7N400L mobo running on F11 BIOS.I'm using two sticks of 512 DDR 400 (2.5-3-3-6) GEIL rams.It is flawless in dual channel mode,but I would like to get more memory.Can I run this mobo in dual channel mode with 2 gigs of ram or 1.5 gig is the max (according the mobo's manual)?What should I by:2 x 512 or 1 x 1 gig or 1 x 512?

Thanks!

[gibbon75]

If I want to fill up all 4 slots,then I need 2x512 single sided,right?
But it is easier to find double sided rams,so this case I need a 1 gb stick.
The question is can I run the system in dual channel mode with 2gb?

[mycroft69]

Although Gigabyte originally intended for this series of boards to have dual channeling through use of all 4 slots with equal amounts of the same type/make of RAM in them, in actual practice it doesn't work. You'll lose dual channeling and the system may not even boot up.

There are other threads throughout this particular category in the forum that talk about the issue. You really should take some time and search through them. For my money, I'd buy a new 2-Gig set of Corsair XMS 3200s (great RAM with few errors and fantastic warranty) and put your GEILs in a lawn sale. Price them just under what you see them sell for in your nearby digital electronics stores and you'll definitely get someone to take them off your hands.

[krystof]

yes you can run dual channel with 2 gig of RAM, i've been doing this for a few days using 2x512 meg of MDT ram double sided on slots 1 & 2, and 1x1024 meg of CORSAIR double sided on slot 3.

[mycroft69]

His question, though, deals with using all four slots to mount the RAM. Again, I don't believe that's supported.

mycroft69

[mycroft69]

Another related question, same motherboard. The manual states "only 2.5 volt RAM." Is anyone using any other voltage rating?

[nitrofc54]

IM running my RAM at 2.7 volts and ALL 4 slots populated now on a 7nnxp,i have 2 single sided ram and 2 dual sided ram, all are 512 ULTRA. The board booted just fine, but has a BSOD after 6 hours run time(was on 2.6 volts) the bsod went away and im a running 2gb of ddr 400 BUt its a runing at 336 MHZ cause i dont want to stress the 2500 -M chip too much.STock on it is 266 mhz 17 % over isnt bad and its rock stable so far.
MY manual stated IF you run all 4 slots, #3 and 4 HAS to run single sided, took me a while to find a second SS ram stick of 512mb. I had been running 3x512 ultras and it doesnt mater in 3 slots populated mode where the single or double sided are put BUT in 3 ram mode i have to use the #1,2 and 3 slots. ANything in #4 WILL cause it to crash OR not boot up at all.
JUST for everyones infomation, each board im sure in the 7n line up may have differnet slots cause different problems.

[mycroft69]

What specific brand name and model? I currently have 2 Corsair XMS PC2700 DIMMs. I never checked out their CAS latency, so I don't know how high performance they are.

I did contact Gigabyte, and their response was any name brand performance RAM matching the clock speeds speced for the board, low latency. Of course, that could cover a lot of territory. I've been to a few retailers online and although RAM prices seem to be dropping, that isn't reflected in the 1st iteration of DDR. Right now, it looks like I'm going to settle on 2 512MB Kingston HyperX PC2700 DIMMs. They still average around $75 (ouch).

My questions have genrally been answered and I'd like to close out this topic.

Thanks to all, and Merry Christmas!

mycroft69

[nitrofc54]

My Ultra are just the standard run of the mill timings are(11,3,3,2.5) according to CPUZ. I have 3 different brands of ultra bought at 3 different times, shows(spec tec,2 Dialog,ad a PDP syatems) as the manufacturer.
Nuttin fancy here and all are the PC 3200 speeds. AS they are underclocked, its not a big deal for me unless i can get a 3000 or 3200 XP CPU cheeap,lol. BUT why do that as the XP-M runs just fine.
Im running the ULT30215,CAS is a 3 on theres BUT all depends on what speeds you run on the MB. "everest Home" is a good program to check the mem chipc out WHNE they are in the MB.
MErry Christmas as well!