quick dual channel question

[badkitty]

i have 2 1gb matching pairs of ddr2, i want to get another 2gb...do all 4 need to be identical...or just each bank

 

[b1gapl]

If you want to get another two, try getting the same pair as your current. Or at least a pair with the same exact specs.

 

[pinoy3000]

Ye, but dual channel will work with the lowest specs. Say even if you have say..... 2GB (1GB x 2) RAM with 4-4-4-12 timing and another 2GB (1GB x 2) RAM with say 5-5-5-15 timing, then both your RAM will run at 5-5-5-15. Now say both of them runs at 800MHz but your 4-4-4-12 RAM runs at 1000MHz at 5-5-5-15, you try to run both of them at 1000MHz 5-5-5-15, it wont run unless your 5-5-5-15 RAM will clock that high which is highly unlikely. It will probably run at 1000Mhz both at 6-6-6-18 timings though.

Also, say if you have 2GB (1GB x 2) + 4GB (2GB x 2) RAM both at the same timing 4-4-4-12, then all 6GB will run at Dual Channel with 4-4-4-12 timing and if they clock the same at 1000MHz 5-5-5-15, then they will work.

But its hard to actually get RAMs to overclock if you have all 4 dims full. Real hard to get it stable.