With quad channel memory, can I use two sets of different capacity (like 4x1 GB + 4x2 GB)?

4

1

My motherboard has quad channel memory compatibility. There are 8 memory slots in all:

  • 4 slots are black
  • the other 4 slots are white.

I currently have 4 memory modules of 1 GB each in the 4 white slots. That leaves me with 4 free memory slots.

My question is: can I put 4 memory modules of 2 GB each in the 4 remaining slots or do I have to use modules of 1 GB all over?

FYI here is the output of lshw:

alpha
    description: Ordinateur Tour
    produit: Precision WorkStation 690 
     *-cpu:0
          description: CPU
          produit: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU           X5355  @ 2.66GHz

     *-memory
          description: Mémoire Système
          identifiant matériel: 1000
          emplacement: Carte mère
          taille: 4GiB
        *-bank:0
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns)
             produit: HYMP512F72CP8N3-Y5
             fabriquant: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
             identifiant matériel: 0
             numéro de série: 56737501
             emplacement: DIMM 1
             taille: 1GiB
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:1
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns)
             produit: HYMP512F72CP8N3-Y5
             fabriquant: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
             identifiant matériel: 1
             numéro de série: 48115124
             emplacement: DIMM 2
             taille: 1GiB
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:2
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns)
             produit: HYMP512F72CP8N3-Y5
             fabriquant: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
             identifiant matériel: 2
             numéro de série: 48115523
             emplacement: DIMM 3
             taille: 1GiB
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:3
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns)
             produit: HYMP512F72CP8N3-Y5
             fabriquant: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
             identifiant matériel: 3
             numéro de série: 48115424
             emplacement: DIMM 4
             taille: 1GiB
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:4
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns) [vide]
             fabriquant: FFFFFFFFFFFF
             identifiant matériel: 4
             numéro de série: FFFFFFFF
             emplacement: DIMM 5
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:5
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns) [vide]
             fabriquant: FFFFFFFFFFFF
             identifiant matériel: 5
             numéro de série: FFFFFFFF
             emplacement: DIMM 6
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:6
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns) [vide]
             fabriquant: FFFFFFFFFFFF
             identifiant matériel: 6
             numéro de série: FFFFFFFF
             emplacement: DIMM 7
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:7
             description: FB-DIMM DDR2 FB-DIMM Synchrone 667 MHz (1,5 ns) [vide]
             fabriquant: FFFFFFFFFFFF
             identifiant matériel: 7
             numéro de série: FFFFFFFF
             emplacement: DIMM 8
             bits: 64 bits
             horloge: 667MHz (1.5ns)
     *-pci:0
          description: Host bridge
          produit: 5000X Chipset Memory Controller Hub
          fabriquant: Intel Corporation
          identifiant matériel: 100
          information bus: pci@0000:00:00.0
          version: 12
          bits: 32 bits
          horloge: 33MHz

balteo

Posted 2012-11-05T09:41:19.370

Reputation: 257

2Check your manual for supported memory configurations. – Ramhound – 2012-11-05T10:41:31.270

Hello Ramhound. I am not with you: do you mean it depends on my motherboard? My question is a general question about quad-channel compatibility. Can someone please reply to it? – balteo – 2012-11-05T10:48:20.337

1Some memory configuration have specific speed requirements on some motherboards. This isn't and CANNOT be a general question, because those requirements, are all spelled out in the manual. My motherboard for example only supports 8GB in a specific configuration, otherwise, it only supports 4GB. The output you provided us also doesn't tell us what motherboard you have, so its not that helpful, you can easily answer this question yourself. – Ramhound – 2012-11-05T11:27:59.720

Answers

1

It was a bit tricky finding information since LSHW was in french. However the usermanual for the model seems to cover it

"For optimal performance fully buffered DIMMs (FBDs) should be installed in matched sets of four. This enables quad-channel operation and provides the highest memory bandwidth. The sets of four must be matched in size, rank, and organization. This information can normally be found on the FBD label. For example, the label of each FBD in a set of four might read: 1G 2R x8, in which 1G represents the size of the memory module, 2R represents the number of ranks, and x8 represents the organization."

This means you should be able to install a set of 4 memory modules of 2gb with no issue alongside your current ram. You can find the manuals here

Journeyman Geek

Posted 2012-11-05T09:41:19.370

Reputation: 119 122

Asked: 2012-11-05T09:41:19.370

Viewed: 1 955 times

Active: 2013-02-24T11:45:17.967