How can I tell if my RAM is single or double sided?

[BomberAF]

As the question really. I need to know how to find out whether my RAM is single or double sided because the mobo I have been looking at will have problems if double sided is used.

This is the RAM I currently have:

TECHGUYS PC2-6400 DDR2-800 DIMM RAM Memory Module - 2GB at cheap prices | PC World

and I want to buy this MOBO:

GA-EG41MF-US2H (rev. 1.3) - GIGABYTE

 

[severedsolo]

the easiest way to tell is simply to pop the hood on your PC and look

If each DIMM has memory chips on only one side of the DIMM's printed circuit
card then it's single sided. If it has memory chips on both sides of the
DIMM's printed circuit card then it's double sided.

 

[BomberAF]

the easiest way to tell is simply to pop the hood on your PC and look

If each DIMM has memory chips on only one side of the DIMM's printed circuit
card then it's single sided. If it has memory chips on both sides of the
DIMM's printed circuit card then it's double sided.

I have been told that is not true with new RAM only old RAM, how sure are you?

 

[severedsolo]

I'm failry confident.... but by all means wait and see what others say

 

[BomberAF]

I'm failry confident.... but by all means wait and see what others say

Cheers will do

 

[pebbly]

also check if it uses high or low density ram , i had a DFI Lanparty that would only accept low density

 

[BomberAF]

also check if it uses high or low density ram , i had a DFI Lanparty that would only accept low density

If you look at the specs of the mobo that I have posted it doesn't mention anything regarding HD or LD RAM.

But can you fill me in on the single or dual ram debate?

 

[fishnbanjo]

Back in the old days one could almost identify single sided from double sided RAM by the chips being on one side, or both, but not always as there were single sided RAM modules that used both sides.

Today's RAM modules use denser chip technology so what may have taken 16 chips just 2 generations ago can now be made using 8 chips so if 16 chips are on one side it can be seen by a mobo as double sided. Add to this single channel and dual channel memory it can get downright confusing. to make matters worse the manufacturers p/n does not always tell you the answer either.

If you need RAM you have to know what your mobo model, manufacturer, p/n and version number is and the vendor should be able to give you what memory will work with it.

 

[BomberAF]

Back in the old days one could almost identify single sided from double sided RAM by the chips being on one side, or both, but not always as there were single sided RAM modules that used both sides.

Today's RAM modules use denser chip technology so what may have taken 16 chips just 2 generations ago can now be made using 8 chips so if 16 chips are on one side it can be seen by a mobo as double sided. Add to this single channel and dual channel memory it can get downright confusing. to make matters worse the manufacturers p/n does not always tell you the answer either.

If you need RAM you have to know what your mobo model, manufacturer, p/n and version number is and the vendor should be able to give you what memory will work with it.

If you read my thread completly then you will see I am not after RAM I need to know what type of RAM I have for a MOBO I AM BUYING!

 

[Bill2]

Go to www.crucial.com and enter your mobo details under "Crucial memory advisor tool".

 

[BomberAF]

Go to www.crucial.com and enter your mobo details under "Crucial memory advisor tool".

I do thank you for responding but if you read the very first post then you will see why what you have just said is completly useless to me.

 

[stormy13]

You looked at either the manual or memory compatibility list for that motherboard yet (select each from the dropdown),

GA-EG41MF-US2H (rev. 1.3) - GIGABYTE

The compatibility list isn't the be all and end all of what will work with the board as they don't have the time to test all the memory available. One thing I can tell you is that the ram you currently will not be in the list, at least not under them name as shown on that site. You would need to find out from the numbers either on the chips themselves or if there is a model number of some kind as Techguys did not make it; it is just generic ram that they added their name to.

Also as far as that warning on the motherboard page,

* Do not populate both DIMM sockets of the same channel (e.g. DDR and DDR2), or populate 4 DIMM sockets with double-sided memory modules to prevent system's failure to start or incorrect detection of memory modules. Please refer to the user manual for the memory configurations table.

That is a general CYA disclaimer that they put there, for starters that motherboard doesn't even support DDR so there is no need for it to even be mentioned.

The main thing with double sided (or even high density to expand on what pebbly said about low density) is if you are going to populate all four memory slots, that is where the warning can come into affect, reason being is that it can overload the memory controller.

 

[pebbly]

Go to www.crucial.com and enter your mobo details under "Crucial memory advisor tool".

I do thank you for responding but if you read the very first post then you will see why what you have just said is completly useless to me.

the only way to tell is look inside your pc ,see what the ram is ,single or double ,see who the manf is ,go to their website see what the specs are then compare it to the new mobo's specs and make your own decision

 

[BomberAF]

You looked at either the manual or memory compatibility list for that motherboard yet (select each from the dropdown),

GA-EG41MF-US2H (rev. 1.3) - GIGABYTE

The compatibility list isn't the be all and end all of what will work with the board as they don't have the time to test all the memory available. One thing I can tell you is that the ram you currently will not be in the list, at least not under them name as shown on that site. You would need to find out from the numbers either on the chips themselves or if there is a model number of some kind as Techguys did not make it; it is just generic ram that they added their name to.

Also as far as that warning on the motherboard page,

* Do not populate both DIMM sockets of the same channel (e.g. DDR and DDR2), or populate 4 DIMM sockets with double-sided memory modules to prevent system's failure to start or incorrect detection of memory modules. Please refer to the user manual for the memory configurations table.

That is a general CYA disclaimer that they put there, for starters that motherboard doesn't even support DDR so there is no need for it to even be mentioned.

The main thing with double sided (or even high density to expand on what pebbly said about low density) is if you are going to populate all four memory slots, that is where the warning can come into affect, reason being is that it can overload the memory controller.

Thank you, you always do speak a lot of sense. The modules are made by integral and I have asked them whether or not they are single or double sided.

Anyway back to the point. So what your saying is that the warning there is just to cover their backsides in the even that you buy the mobo and it doesn't work, but more than likely it will work no problem?

 

[fishnbanjo]

Back in the old days one could almost identify single sided from double sided RAM by the chips being on one side, or both, but not always as there were single sided RAM modules that used both sides.

Today's RAM modules use denser chip technology so what may have taken 16 chips just 2 generations ago can now be made using 8 chips so if 16 chips are on one side it can be seen by a mobo as double sided. Add to this single channel and dual channel memory it can get downright confusing. to make matters worse the manufacturers p/n does not always tell you the answer either.

If you need RAM you have to know what your mobo model, manufacturer, p/n and version number is and the vendor should be able to give you what memory will work with it.

If you read my thread completly then you will see I am not after RAM I need to know what type of RAM I have for a MOBO I AM BUYING!

I understand and figured that you would understand that using how I explained to do what I said you could reverse the process and do the same, i.e. follow the advice I gave and go to the manufacturer of you RAM's website and see what it is, if it is not listed their tech support or customer support dept will be able to give you a factual answer about your RAM then you can contact the mobo company and see if what you have is compatible.

 

[stormy13]

Anyway back to the point. So what your saying is that the warning there is just to cover their backsides in the even that you buy the mobo and it doesn't work, but more than likely it will work no problem?

Correct. My motherboard is a perfect example of that, the ram I have is not in the QVL list for the board yet works just fine.

 

[BomberAF]

I have just looked at the manual and it doesn't mention not being able to use the double sided RAM:

It says this:

Due to chipset limitation, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.
1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one DDR2 memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that
memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same
colored DDR2 sockets for optimum performance.
3. Because of chipset limitations, to avoid the system being unable to start or the memory being
incorrectly detected, if only one memory module is to be installed, we suggest that you install
it on the DDR2_1 or DDR2_3 socket; to install two memory modules, we suggest that you​

install them on the DDR2_1 and DDR2_3 sockets. (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest
memory support list.)
When memory modules of different capacity and chips are installed, a message which says

memory is operating in Flex Memory Mode will appear during the POST. Intel​

​

​

​

® Flex Memory
Technology offers greater flexibility to upgrade by allowing different memory sizes to be​

populated and remain in Dual Channel mode/performance.

So this means that I should have no problems running 4 double sided RAM cards but should there be a problem they will not accept any responsabilty?

There is also no mention of Integral being compatable.

 

[BomberAF]

Back in the old days one could almost identify single sided from double sided RAM by the chips being on one side, or both, but not always as there were single sided RAM modules that used both sides.

Today's RAM modules use denser chip technology so what may have taken 16 chips just 2 generations ago can now be made using 8 chips so if 16 chips are on one side it can be seen by a mobo as double sided. Add to this single channel and dual channel memory it can get downright confusing. to make matters worse the manufacturers p/n does not always tell you the answer either.

If you need RAM you have to know what your mobo model, manufacturer, p/n and version number is and the vendor should be able to give you what memory will work with it.

If you read my thread completly then you will see I am not after RAM I need to know what type of RAM I have for a MOBO I AM BUYING!

I understand and figured that you would understand that using how I explained to do what I said you could reverse the process and do the same, i.e. follow the advice I gave and go to the manufacturer of you RAM's website and see what it is, if it is not listed their tech support or customer support dept will be able to give you a factual answer about your RAM then you can contact the mobo company and see if what you have is compatible.

Oh right thank you, forgive me for being rude.

I have actually contacted to manufacturer for the required info.

 

[stormy13]

You looked at the supported memory list for the board yet? While not being all inclusive as to what will or won't work with the board, most of the tested memory on the list is double sided.

 

[BomberAF]

You looked at the supported memory list for the board yet? While not being all inclusive as to what will or won't work with the board, most of the tested memory on the list is double sided.

Yes I have and it doesn't mention Integral is supported RAM.

What the problem is though is that if you use all 4 slots with double sided RAM then it will not work properly. When they tested and published the compatable RAM did they fill all 4 with double sided and found that it worked properly?