[tkmd]

Sorry, I did a search but I could not find the answer. I have a MP with 2 512 sticks on the top and 2 512MB sticks on the bottom riser. I am beginning to see the need for more RAM. I would like to keep the quad channel - if I buy two sticks of 1 GB ram and put them in to the MP ( I would have then 3 sticks on to and bottom ) did I just nullify the quad channel?

[TimmyDee51]

It won't nullify it, but your latency to the RAM beyond the first two pair will be higher. I would put the two 1 GB sticks closest to the front and follow that up with the 512 MB sticks. I still upgrade, though, as more RAM is always better.

[onlyone-jc]

Originally Posted by TimmyDee51 

I would put the two 1 GB sticks closest to the front and follow that up with the 512 MB sticks.

That would put the RAM in to dual-channel mode. In terms of the latency, it would make more sense to do this only if you tend to fill up the RAM quickly. If you use a lot, but only over a long period of time (i.e. the kind of applications you're using aren't for rendering video, Photoshop, etc), then I would keep the 4x512MB where they are, and simply add a 1GB DIMM to each side. This should prove faster in the short-term.

If you want to upgrade your RAM, and keep it in quad-channel mode, you'll need to buy four DIMMs of the same type/capacity. So, for example, 4GB in 1GB DIMMs (4x1GB). It's probably worth the stretch (in terms of money) if you demand a lot from your system.

Good luck,
onlyone-jc.