-=PCTechTalk=- Re: help,bluescreen yikes

  • From: Gman <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:37:42 -0400

Oh, I KNOW we would, Girl!  I absolutely KNOW it!        :O)

The amount of memory is exactly the same, but dual-channel mode allows the 
system to break up the two sticks into two separate working areas.  This is 
especially useful for multi-core CPU systems, but has plenty of benefits for 
single core processors, too.

If you can picture everything that needs to be done within a computer's 
circuitry at any given time as a single task that's independant of all 
others (it's not true, but bear with me here), it's easier to watch the path 
it takes through that system.  You issue a command (for example, you double 
click on an MP3 file) and the system goes to work for you.  The CPU plucks 
that file from the hard drive and then feeds it into RAM memory where it can 
actually use it.  By examining the extension of the file and 'looking it up 
in the registry' (which is almost always loaded into memory), it determines 
that it needs to open up another program to process the data (WinAmp 
perhaps).  WinAmp is then called from the hard drive into memory where it is 
commanded by the CPU to process the original file (within memory) and sent 
its 'output' to the sound card for any additional processing that the 
soundcard's drivers (already in memory) are designed to add, meanwhile the 
CPU has been freed up to go and start the next command it's been issued.

That's a VERY simplistic version of how a single core computer does its 
thing, but it illustrates, at least to a point, that memory plays a critical 
role in almost everything that happens in there.  While this is nowhere near 
an accurate portrayal of dual-channel operation, imagine next that all of 
the above can be done on just one of the two sticks of RAM installed in the 
system.  That would free up the second stick for working on whatever command 
the CPU finds next in its 'queue'.  So, while the first stick is busy 
working on something, the second stick is free to take on another, but more 
importantly, separate load without waiting for the first task to complete 
(or at least make some room for another set of orders).

That's probably the best explanation I can give, at least in layman's terms, 
to describe how dual-channel operation is vastly superior to single channel 
mode.  Now, if you'd like a more technical explanation, I'll send in a list 
of about 9 or 10 books I'd like you to study before we begin. 
;0}

Peace,
Gman

"The only dumb questions are the ones we fail to ask"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lilian" <lilian.oswaldocruz@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 11:05 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: help,bluescreen yikes


> Some of it is and one always learns new things.  But yes, I have a 
> question.
> Although I know what a matched pair of memory sticks is, I am not too sure
> what the benefit of having one is.  If you have 2 X 512 for instance would 
> I
> get more than 1 GB of Ram?  Or does it increase speed?
>
> Lil
> P.S.  I bet we´d do much better than the "geeks" <g> 


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