RAM & new cpu questions

I have an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe mb. It has 3 slots for RAM. I currently have two 512 mb sticks installed and it is running in the dual DDR mode.

- My first question is: If I install a third 512 mb stick (giving me 1536 mb) will it out- perform the 1024 mb running in the dual mode? Any advantages / disadvantages?

- Secondly: I have an AMD XP 2000+ cpu and want to upgrade it to an xp 3200+ 400 FSB. What problems should I expect to encounter when doing this? Windows XP recognition problems? New hardware recognition problems? Burn in problems?

Thank you!

AMD Athlon 2000+
Asus A7N8X Deluxe v2
Asus V9950 Ultra
1024 mb OCZ EL PC 3200 400 Mhz
Thermaltake X 480W
Windows XP Home

 

No, installing a third stick will make all the RAM run in single channel mode. You shouldn't need more than a gig of memory for any application nowadays anyway.

Windows XP might make you re-activate, but it may not since it is such a small change. The only problem I can see would be with your RAM. If you have anything less than DDR400 (PC3200) memory, then you will have to overclock your RAM to realize the full potential of the increase in FSB speed.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

to correct: installing a 3rd stick of RAM would NOT disable Dual Channel mode.

straight from the A7N8X Deluxe manual:
To enhance system performance, utilize dual-channel feature when installing additional DIMMs. Install the DIMMs in any of the following sequence: Sockets 1&3 or Sockets 2&3 or sockets 1, 2&3.

however, as Wyatt_Earp said, you really have no need for more than 1GB unless you use some crazy 3D animation programs.

 

Interesting. I have the MSI K7N2 and it says 1&3, or 2&3. I just assumed it was a limitation of the nForce2 chipset. I stand corrected.

 

thats the setup for dual channel only. if you add a third stick, the other two will stay in dual channel. i was going to run a similiar setup a while back, but when another direction.