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Full Version: Ddr2 Ram Dual Channel Problem

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acspiess

Mar 24 2006, 10:18 PM

Just got back from Best Buy where I was about to purchase a Gateway MX3215 notebook. However, since it only came with 256 MB RAM I decided to buy an upgrade. However, after they looked up the specs of the model, they found out it was dual channel memory but only had one expansion slot for memory. Now as far as I could tell, and as far as they could tell me, dual channel RAM needs to come with 2 "sticks". Meaning that I would need two 256 MB RAM expansion sticks (but impossible to install because only one slot) or one 512 MB dual channel DDR2 RAM; the operative term being "dual channel". Apparently, a regular (single channel?) RAM upgrade wouldn't be compatible or work as well. Any help anyone can offer?

tg1911

Mar 24 2006, 10:54 PM

Are you sure it calls for DDR2 RAM?
According to Crucial that machine uses DDR RAM:
Gateway MX3215 notebook

DDR2 (double data rate, second generation) requires 2 sticks, DDR (double data rate, first generation) usually requires only 1.

acspiess

Mar 24 2006, 10:58 PM

According to BestBuy.com it is DDR2. Not saying you're wrong (I have no clue) but this is the ad online:

QUOTE

Gateway Notebook with Intel® Celeron® M Processor 360

Model: MX3215

With this lightweight notebook, you can surf the Web, check your e-mail and instant message your friends on the go, thanks to the built-in wireless technology. Transfer digital pictures easily using the 4-in-1 digital media manager.

Intel® Celeron® M processor 360 with 400MHz frontside bus, 1MB L2 cache and 1.4GHz processor speed

256MB DDR2 memory for multitasking power, expandable to 1GB

oldf@rt

Mar 25 2006, 12:13 AM

Are you sure you were shopping at best buy, not best lie?

crucial is normally correct, I would believe what crucial says.

Platypus

Mar 25 2006, 08:27 AM

Gateway say regular PC2700 DDR SODIMM:

"Memory 256 MB DDR (1 × 256 MB) SODIMM (PC2700) Expandable to 1 GB"

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Q106/Magic/5948sp2.shtml

It's not the memory that's dual channel and DDR2 is not implying dual channel, there are dual channel motherboards, but memory doesn't have to be fitted in pairs even in dual channel boards if you don't wish to operate in dual channel mode:

http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.asp?qid=4079

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