dual DDR confusion

[scorman]

I am trying to upgrade my ECS N2U400-A MB with (2) 512MB DDR PC3200 modules. There are a lot of rebate offers out there now.

BUT, The Viking site claims:
"Notes: MODULES MUST BE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED IN PAIRS for Dual Channel support."

Does this imply that modules have to be purchased as a matched pair to function in the dual channel configuration that this board supports?

I can't just order two of these as singles, or get one now and get another in two months? Presume that I can't use memory from two different vendors ie one from Kingston, one from Viking, but if both are from same vendor?

TIA
Stew Corman from sunny Endicott

[Reather]

You don't have to get a matched pair. All you need is 2 modules w/ the same specs. But, stick w/ the same module.

[scorman]

Thanks for your reply, and can you please amplify

"You don't have to get a matched pair. All you need is 2 modules w/ the same specs."

Looking at a listing:
Viking 512MB DDR PC3200 / PC400 CL3 3-3-3

By same specs, do you imply that all of the above must be matched ie the latency and "3-3-3" ?

How do I know that the MB is running in dual channel ? ..is it something that gets autodect or do I have to set bios to accomodate the change?

Thanks again for your expertise
Stew

[elroy]

When my pc boots, on the boot screen at the top it says "single channel" or "dual channel" depending on what your memory configuration is.

[Reather]

Yes, the Specifications must be the same. I recommend you stay w/ the same memory company, but some people have gotten away with this, by keeping the memory module manufacturer the same (the memory companies simply rebrand their memory).
What is your motherboard?

[scorman]

"I am trying to upgrade my ECS N2U400-A MB with (2) 512MB DDR PC3200 modules."

Am I nuts, or are the ads purposely misleading. Major tech resellers are posting insufficient specs ie most say "unbuffered" but nobody posts ""non-ECC" or "ECC":
http://www.buy.com/retail/techspecs/...1&PageFormat=8
or
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?EdpNo=658898

Can I presume that the cheaper line of "value" memory is all non-ECC?
(tried to email to Kingston and Viking and got no response)

Stew

[scorman]

Fry's even posts a Kingston module that is unidentifyable:
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4413316#detailed