ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM

There are two ways to color code motherboard memory slots on
motherboards with dual channel memory and 4 memory slots (2 per
channel). Remember that for dual channel operation, you want one module
of each pair of modules in each channel (not in the two slots for the
same channel):

-Color code by channel ... that is [for example], both red slots are the
channel A slots, and both yellow slots are the channel B slots

-Color code by where you put the modules for proper dual channel
insertion: Fill both red slots with one pair, fill both yellow slots
with the second pair (if there is a 2nd pair)

The problem is, since the memory makers have color coded both ways, the
color coding becomes meaningless. But the manuals always have examples.
Bottom line: RTFM

If the bios messages don't tell you if you have dual channel operation
(and many don't), then Memtest86 most definitely does.


Bob Knowlden wrote:
> I was going to write "read the manual", but I thought that I'd better read
> it myself first.
>
> It seems to say that the DIMMs go in slots of the same channel (one yellow,
> one black) for dual-channel operation.
>
> However, on my P5W DH, the DIMMs go in the same color slots to make dual
> channel pairs. I believe that the orange slots (A1 and B1) should be
> populated first. (That's the way I have my RAM installed.) The same was true
> on several older Asus boards that I used (P4P800, A8V Deluxe, A8N-SLI.)
> Either the P5B Deluxe manual is badly written, or it's different from 4
> other Asus boards with similar slot designations. (I believe that it's badly
> written.)
>
> Why not experiment? The BIOS startup message should inform you whether
> you're getting dual channel or not. You can confirm it with SANDRA (free
> version, http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/).
>
> HTH.
>
> Return address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.
>
> "ACP" <none.DeleteThis@noone.none> wrote in message
> news:OMKdnS4Y3JdgrFfYnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> I'm installing two sticks of 1GB - DDR2 RAM in the subject mobo.
>>
>> Which slots should they go in; The two yellow, the two black or a black
>> and yellow in the same bank?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM 

"ACP" <none.TakeThisOut@noone.none> wrote in message
news:OMKdnS4Y3JdgrFfYnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@giganews.com...
> I'm installing two sticks of 1GB - DDR2 RAM in the subject mobo.
>
> Which slots should they go in; The two yellow, the two black or a black
> and yellow in the same bank?
>
> Thanks.

Thanks guys for replying. This is the first dual channel board I've
assembled.

I did RTFM and they do not say how to configure the RAM for proper dual
channel operation. They just talk about A1, A2 and B1, B2.

• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The
system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel
configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then
mapped for single-channel operation.

• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility,
it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.

• Due to chipset resource allocation, the system may detect less than 8 GB
system memory when you installed four 2 GB DDR2 memory modules.

• This motherboard does not support memory modules made up of 128 Mb chips
or double sided x16 memory modules.

The above is cut and pasted from the P5B manual. Nothing about
installation for proper dual channel operation.

So, I'll look for something in the BIOS or some 3rd party utility like
Sandra to make sure all is well.

I received all the innards of the new PC today but the case will not arrive
till tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM 

See page 2-15:

"Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the
black slots as one pair of dual channel memory configuration."

As Asus has color coded the slots, for dual channel operation, both blue
slots is one pair and both black slots is another pair.


ACP wrote:
> "ACP" <none.RemoveThis@noone.none> wrote in message
> news:OMKdnS4Y3JdgrFfYnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> I'm installing two sticks of 1GB - DDR2 RAM in the subject mobo.
>>
>> Which slots should they go in; The two yellow, the two black or a black
>> and yellow in the same bank?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> Thanks guys for replying. This is the first dual channel board I've
> assembled.
>
> I did RTFM and they do not say how to configure the RAM for proper dual
> channel operation. They just talk about A1, A2 and B1, B2.
>
> • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The
> system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel
> configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then
> mapped for single-channel operation.
>
> • Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility,
> it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
>
> • Due to chipset resource allocation, the system may detect less than 8 GB
> system memory when you installed four 2 GB DDR2 memory modules.
>
> • This motherboard does not support memory modules made up of 128 Mb chips
> or double sided x16 memory modules.
>
> The above is cut and pasted from the P5B manual. Nothing about
> installation for proper dual channel operation.
>
> So, I'll look for something in the BIOS or some 3rd party utility like
> Sandra to make sure all is well.
>
> I received all the innards of the new PC today but the case will not arrive
> till tomorrow.
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM 

Here's what I found in my P5B - Deluxe manual, Second Edition V2 - July,
2006.. It's located on page 2-16 as a foot note to the RAM QVL. Nothing on
page 2-15 referring to RAM location. Same information is in the ASUS pdf
file for the manual on their web site.



http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us



======================================

A - Supports one module inserted into either slot, in Single-channel memory
configuration.

B - Supports one pair of modules inserted into either Channel A or Channel B
as one pair of Dual-channel memory configuration.

C - Supports four modules inserted into the yellow and black slots as two
pairs of Dual-channel memory configuration

On my board there are yellow and black headers. One of each for channel A
and one of each for channel B.
==================================


From "B" above I read that to say that for dual channel configuration both
DIMMS go in the same channel, not the same color headers which be one in
each channel.



"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM DeleteThis @neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:45cb1c0f$0$27078$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> See page 2-15:
>
> "Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the
> black slots as one pair of dual channel memory configuration."
>
> As Asus has color coded the slots, for dual channel operation, both blue
> slots is one pair and both black slots is another pair.
>
>
> ACP wrote:
>> "ACP" <none DeleteThis @noone.none> wrote in message
>> news:OMKdnS4Y3JdgrFfYnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>> I'm installing two sticks of 1GB - DDR2 RAM in the subject mobo.
>>>
>>> Which slots should they go in; The two yellow, the two black or a black
>>> and yellow in the same bank?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Thanks guys for replying. This is the first dual channel board I've
>> assembled.
>>
>> I did RTFM and they do not say how to configure the RAM for proper dual
>> channel operation. They just talk about A1, A2 and B1, B2.
>>
>> • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The
>> system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the
>> dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized
>> channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
>>
>> • Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum
>> compatibility, it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the
>> same vendor.
>>
>> • Due to chipset resource allocation, the system may detect less than 8
>> GB system memory when you installed four 2 GB DDR2 memory modules.
>>
>> • This motherboard does not support memory modules made up of 128 Mb
>> chips or double sided x16 memory modules.
>>
>> The above is cut and pasted from the P5B manual. Nothing about
>> installation for proper dual channel operation.
>>
>> So, I'll look for something in the BIOS or some 3rd party utility like
>> Sandra to make sure all is well.
>>
>> I received all the innards of the new PC today but the case will not
>> arrive till tomorrow.
>>
>> Thanks for the help.
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM 

Re: "From "B" above I read that to say that for dual channel
configuration both DIMMS go in the same channel"

By definition, that is NEVER true. For dual channel, you need one
module in each channel.

The problem is that channels have nothing to do with socket color
coding. Some motherboards color code the channels (all sockets
belonging to the same channel are the same color), some color code where
you put the modules for proper dual channel operation (each channel has
one socket of each color).

Since it's done both ways, you just have to read the manual. See my
previous post.

ACP wrote:
> Here's what I found in my P5B - Deluxe manual, Second Edition V2 - July,
> 2006.. It's located on page 2-16 as a foot note to the RAM QVL. Nothing on
> page 2-15 referring to RAM location. Same information is in the ASUS pdf
> file for the manual on their web site.
>
>
>
> http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us
>
>
>
> ======================================
>
> A - Supports one module inserted into either slot, in Single-channel memory
> configuration.
>
> B - Supports one pair of modules inserted into either Channel A or Channel B
> as one pair of Dual-channel memory configuration.
>
> C - Supports four modules inserted into the yellow and black slots as two
> pairs of Dual-channel memory configuration
>
> On my board there are yellow and black headers. One of each for channel A
> and one of each for channel B.
> ==================================
>
>
> From "B" above I read that to say that for dual channel configuration both
> DIMMS go in the same channel, not the same color headers which be one in
> each channel.
>
>
>
> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM DeleteThis @neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:45cb1c0f$0$27078$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> See page 2-15:
>>
>> "Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the
>> black slots as one pair of dual channel memory configuration."
>>
>> As Asus has color coded the slots, for dual channel operation, both blue
>> slots is one pair and both black slots is another pair.
>>
>>
>> ACP wrote:
>>> "ACP" <none DeleteThis @noone.none> wrote in message
>>> news:OMKdnS4Y3JdgrFfYnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>>> I'm installing two sticks of 1GB - DDR2 RAM in the subject mobo.
>>>>
>>>> Which slots should they go in; The two yellow, the two black or a black
>>>> and yellow in the same bank?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>> Thanks guys for replying. This is the first dual channel board I've
>>> assembled.
>>>
>>> I did RTFM and they do not say how to configure the RAM for proper dual
>>> channel operation. They just talk about A1, A2 and B1, B2.
>>>
>>> • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The
>>> system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the
>>> dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized
>>> channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
>>>
>>> • Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum
>>> compatibility, it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the
>>> same vendor.
>>>
>>> • Due to chipset resource allocation, the system may detect less than 8
>>> GB system memory when you installed four 2 GB DDR2 memory modules.
>>>
>>> • This motherboard does not support memory modules made up of 128 Mb
>>> chips or double sided x16 memory modules.
>>>
>>> The above is cut and pasted from the P5B manual. Nothing about
>>> installation for proper dual channel operation.
>>>
>>> So, I'll look for something in the BIOS or some 3rd party utility like
>>> Sandra to make sure all is well.
>>>
>>> I received all the innards of the new PC today but the case will not
>>> arrive till tomorrow.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the help.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM 

actually the p5B dlx has yellow and black connectors not blue. see the board
dwg for A1 B1 etc.

-john

"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM.RemoveThis@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:45cb1c0f$0$27078$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> See page 2-15:
>
> "Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the
> black slots as one pair of dual channel memory configuration."
>
> As Asus has color coded the slots, for dual channel operation, both blue
> slots is one pair and both black slots is another pair.
>
>
> ACP wrote:
>> "ACP" <none.RemoveThis@noone.none> wrote in message
>> news:OMKdnS4Y3JdgrFfYnZ2dnUVZ_g2dnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>> I'm installing two sticks of 1GB - DDR2 RAM in the subject mobo.
>>>
>>> Which slots should they go in; The two yellow, the two black or a black
>>> and yellow in the same bank?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Thanks guys for replying. This is the first dual channel board I've
>> assembled.
>>
>> I did RTFM and they do not say how to configure the RAM for proper dual
>> channel operation. They just talk about A1, A2 and B1, B2.
>>
>> • You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The
>> system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the
>> dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized
>> channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
>>
>> • Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum
>> compatibility, it is recommended that you obtain memory modules from the
>> same vendor.
>>
>> • Due to chipset resource allocation, the system may detect less than 8
>> GB system memory when you installed four 2 GB DDR2 memory modules.
>>
>> • This motherboard does not support memory modules made up of 128 Mb
>> chips or double sided x16 memory modules.
>>
>> The above is cut and pasted from the P5B manual. Nothing about
>> installation for proper dual channel operation.
>>
>> So, I'll look for something in the BIOS or some 3rd party utility like
>> Sandra to make sure all is well.
>>
>> I received all the innards of the new PC today but the case will not
>> arrive till tomorrow.
>>
>> Thanks for the help.
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM 

I was just making an example, not specific to any one motherboard. The
point being that motherboards have been made in which, for dual channel
operation with 2 modules, you sometimes put the two modules in sockets
of the same color, and on other motherboards you put one module in each
color of socket.

Major Ninth wrote:
> actually the p5B dlx has yellow and black connectors not blue. see the board
> dwg for A1 B1 etc.
>
> -john
 >> Stay informed about: ASUS P5B-D and DDR2 RAM