"Unganged mode" for DDR3?

Motoman · 6th Mar 2009, 03:37 AM

...just built my first DDR3 system (on an Asus 790/750 mobo with PII)...

At POST, the mobo reports the DDR3 as being in "unganged mode" - WTF is that, and is that good or bad?

Dashken · 6th Mar 2009, 10:57 AM

Unganged mode seems to be faster in some apps and slower in some as well.
iXBT Labs - AMD Phenom X4 Memory Controller in the Ganged/Unganged Mode - Page 1: Introduction, tests

From what I can tell 'Unganged mode' means each core is given 1 stick of RAM to use.

Quote:

It is amd's version of Nvidia's Locked vs unlocked architecture.

basically allowing you to use your ram in dual channel vs single channel.

Ganged = dual channel mode for ram. All cores get access to 100% of the ram.

unganged = single channel. Each core gets access to a stick of ram.

In theory, the unganged mode is better as each core will get access to data quicker. In theory.

Ganged vs. Unganged Mode - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

ZuePhok · 6th Mar 2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motoman

...just built my first DDR3 system (on an Asus 790/750 mobo with PII)...

At POST, the mobo reports the DDR3 as being in "unganged mode" - WTF is that, and is that good or bad?

the Phenom and Phenom II chips have two built-in memory controllers.

ganged = 1x 128-bit memory controller. both memory controllers are combined into one 128-bit wide memory controller.

unganged = 2x 64-bit memory controllers. each channel gets its dedicated pool of memory.

AMD representative recommended unganged mode. but to be frank, i found no different betweem them. and why are you getting a DDR3 board for your processor anyway? Could have used the $$$ for other things. eg. faster drive, GPU, better sound card/system, wider display etc. Stuff that can enhance the overall user experience.

Cheers!

Adrian Wong · 6th Mar 2009, 10:46 PM

Doesn't sound like it would make much of a difference.

I will have to do more research on this.

Motoman · 7th Mar 2009, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

and why are you getting a DDR3 board for your processor anyway? Could have used the $$$ for other things. eg. faster drive, GPU, better sound card/system, wider display etc. Stuff that can enhance the overall user experience.

Cheers!

...this box has a HD4870 video card, 8Gb of RAM, and 2 750Gb hard drives in RAID 1. I waited for the DDR3 board just to future proof it.

Chai · 7th Mar 2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motoman

...this box has a HD4870 video card, 8Gb of RAM, and 2 750Gb hard drives in RAID 1. I waited for the DDR3 board just to future proof it.

DDR3 won't last very long. You could have gotten higher end parts like 4870x2 or even better HDD.

Motoman · 10th Mar 2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chai

DDR3 won't last very long. You could have gotten higher end parts like 4870x2 or even better HDD.

The extra cost of the DDR3 was no where near the price difference between a 4870 and an 4870X2. And I don't think any other HDD choices would have made any perceptable difference.

Granted that AMD is just now supporting DDR3, and Intel's tops stuff is using it, why do you think it isn't going to "last very long?" Seems pretty obvious it's going to be around for a long time ...

Chai · 10th Mar 2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

Could have used the $$$ for other things. eg. faster drive, GPU, better sound card/system, wider display etc. Stuff that can enhance the overall user experience.

Whether you agree or not, I think I would have done the same instead of getting DDR3.

ZuePhok · 10th Mar 2009, 11:38 AM

the X3 710/720 is actually a pretty good deal.

great eco support as well. cheap memory, top notch mobo selections, overclockable. the entire platform is quite affordable.

not bad!

Adrian Wong · 10th Mar 2009, 09:47 PM

I think what Chai means is that the effect of using DDR3 is far less than an upgrade to something else like a Radeon HD 4870.

6th Mar 2009, 03:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Motoman Warming up Join Date: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 106 Reputation: 62 Rep Power: 2	"Unganged mode" for DDR3? ...just built my first DDR3 system (on an Asus 790/750 mobo with PII)... At POST, the mobo reports the DDR3 as being in "unganged mode" - WTF is that, and is that good or bad?

6th Mar 2009, 10:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,299 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	Doesn't sound like it would make much of a difference. I will have to do more research on this. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

10th Mar 2009, 11:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
ZuePhok Hold me back! I can't stop posting!!! Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Floating Island Of Mandango Posts: 8,732 Reputation: 3155 Rep Power: 46	the X3 710/720 is actually a pretty good deal. great eco support as well. cheap memory, top notch mobo selections, overclockable. the entire platform is quite affordable. not bad! __________________ my motto: poison first, think later.

10th Mar 2009, 09:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,299 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	I think what Chai means is that the effect of using DDR3 is far less than an upgrade to something else like a Radeon HD 4870. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

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