Official system requirements

[F19_lacrits]

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

Back on the topic of RAM, that will probably be the one mini-upgrade i'm going to go for after i've done some test flights with CoD. I have three sticks of 1GB each in triple channel (i don't remember timings and clock speeds so i'll have to look it up, but i'm probably going to opt for mid-range settings).

I'm thinking of pushing the total up to 6GB by getting an extra 3x1GB in triple channel, as the motherboard has 3 more slots available in a separate "bank".
My question is, do the new sticks have to share clock speeds and timings with my existing ones, can i "underclock" the faster set to match the slower one if they need to match, or do i just plug them in as long as they are in separate banks?

In case of triple and dual channel RAM.. This has got to do with how the chipset addresses RAM and it's bus-width. Dual channel is 2*64bit and Triple 3*64bit bus-width.
For the chipset to be able to address memory like this they have to be identical in terms of not only speed but also model and make etc. The "system" sees the two or three RAM sticks as one bank of RAM memory.
On a X58 you have two sets of triple channel memory slots. That's why the banks have two sets of color coding.
You don't need to match your new set of RAM sticks with your existing ones in terms of make and model.. The new set should be matched though so that you can run them in triple channel as well. The bus can not run individual frequency to the different banks, so all memory must run on the same speed and with the same timings. So your "worst" RAM stick will set the mark for all other..

[Razorhead]

edit; i'lll be smart and wait for the final release. First see how the game is running on a E6750, 4GB DDR2 & 4870 1GB.

[Blackdog_kt]

Originally Posted by F19_lacrits

In case of triple and dual channel RAM.. This has got to do with how the chipset addresses RAM and it's bus-width. Dual channel is 2*64bit and Triple 3*64bit bus-width.
For the chipset to be able to address memory like this they have to be identical in terms of not only speed but also model and make etc. The "system" sees the two or three RAM sticks as one bank of RAM memory.
On a X58 you have two sets of triple channel memory slots. That's why the banks have two sets of color coding.
You don't need to match your new set of RAM sticks with your existing ones in terms of make and model.. The new set should be matched though so that you can run them in triple channel as well. The bus can not run individual frequency to the different banks, so all memory must run on the same speed and with the same timings. So your "worst" RAM stick will set the mark for all other..

So if i'm getting this correctly, i can buy 3 identical sticks that match each other but don't need to match the previous 3. Then i will have to downgrade my faster set to the speed and timings of the slower one.

Thanks for the input

[kendo65]

You'll get the 3 matched sticks when you buy a set of triple-channel ram.

As F19_lacrits says they can be of different spec to your current ones, but if so you will have to set everything to the speed (and settings ) of the slowest.

I still suggest, though, that for maximum ease and compatibility you just order a second set of the triple-channel ram you are already using.