dual channel to single channel

[shachafby]

hi!
its about my old desktop computer..
abit nf-m2s motherboard, amd athelon 2.4Ghz prossesor, 2X512MB RAM(!!!).
i have installed windows 7 (32bit) on it a month ago, but after getting pissed of waiting i decided to buy another 2Gb ram, and replaced it instead of one of the 512-ram (bad move i guess) and at the beggining it seems to work fast and well (computer properties showed me 2.5gb ram).
after an hour of using it stuck, when i restart the computer, while noticing that on the startup it says 'single channel-64 bit' (and not 128, i guess). .. and stuck again..
i tried working only with the 2gb card, or back only with the 2X512 - nothing helps.

is there any solution besides reinstall win 7 with the 2GB card?
does another 2BG card for faster duel channel will be helpful(with my slow processor..)?

waiting for salvation..
shachaf

 

[bobkn]

Usually, to get dual channel, you have to install RAM in pairs of the same size.

If you are using multiple pairs, the pairs don't have to be the same size. (Example: two 1GB DIMMs, plus two 2GB ones, would support dual channel, although they'd have to be in the correct slots.)

I belive that some motherboards can use dual channel mode with 3 DIMMs, but it's not obvious how that works.

My Intel X58 motherboard claims to be able to do triple channel with 4 DIMMs in the right slots, but I've never tried it.

 

[shachafby]

well, i got that,mine is old and i have only 2 slot, so i can use identical pair or one.
but how do i slove the problem i have now,
that windows is semi-stuck(= can move the mouse but cant do anything.)???
i guess that when i used two different card made the problem..

 

[Brink]

Hello Shachaf, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Looking at your motherboard's specs, it only supports up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM max, with up to 2GB per slot. The only options you have is to use only the new 2GB stick of RAM in the first RAM slot in single channel mode, use both 512MB sticks in both slots in dual channel mode, or get another of the same 2GB stick to use both 2GB sticks in dual channel mode.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[GEWB]

hi!
its about my old desktop computer..
abit nf-m2s motherboard, amd athelon 2.4Ghz prossesor, 2X512MB RAM(!!!).
i have installed windows 7 (32bit) on it a month ago, but after getting pissed of waiting i decided to buy another 2Gb ram, and replaced it instead of one of the 512-ram (bad move i guess) and at the beggining it seems to work fast and well (computer properties showed me 2.5gb ram).
after an hour of using it stuck, when i restart the computer, while noticing that on the startup it says 'single channel-64 bit' (and not 128, i guess). .. and stuck again..
i tried working only with the 2gb card, or back only with the 2X512 - nothing helps.

is there any solution besides reinstall win 7 with the 2GB card?
does another 2BG card for faster duel channel will be helpful(with my slow processor..)?

waiting for salvation..
shachaf

That motherboard can take up to 4GB of RAM - that would be two 2GB sticks of DDR2 800 or 667 or 533 unbuffered. Used matched sticks.

Or remove the 512MB stick and leave the 2GB stick as it may actually be faster that way.

Regards,
GEWB

 

[shachafby]

well, thank you, but i got the hardware issues.
but still, while trying one 2gb stick or two 512mb sticks, windows get stuck within seconds after it been loaded, and i can only move the mouse without ability to do any action..

my question is if someone know this issue, and any solution for that, beside reinstalling windows7?

and a general question:
if installed windows 7 with my 2X512mb sticks(reffering duel channel 128bit), can I just replace it to one 2gb stick (reffering single channel 64 bit), or it makes different setting on windows with must be changed? if yes, how? only reinstalling win7?

thank a lot..
shachaf

 

[Brink]

Shachaf,

This is a hardware issue, so reinstalling Windows 7 is not needed or is going to make any difference.

Looking at page 1-12 of your abit nf-m2s motherboard's manual, check to make sure that you have the 2GB stick in the DIMM 1 slot (blue) on your motherboard. You may also need to reset/clear CMOS (page 1.5.1 in your manual above) to have the changed RAM setup to run properly afterwards.

Usually there is no hardware or BIOS setup required after adding or removing memory modules, but you will have to clear the CMOS memory first if any memory module related problem occurs.

​

The only options you really have is to use only the new 2GB stick of RAM in the first DIMM 1 slot in single channel mode, use both 512MB sticks in both slots in dual channel mode, or get another of the same 2GB stick to use both 2GB sticks in dual channel mode.

 

[shachafby]

thanks!
i'll try that.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope it helps.