3 RAM sticks - A8N-SLI

[SixChurchStreet]

This question is mostly for anyone running A8N motherboards, but I suppose it can apply all over.

My A8N-SLI can take four sticks of RAM like most motherbaords, but I am unclear as to whether or not you can have 3 sticks, making the two "channels" (A & B) unbalanced. Does anyone use 3 1GB sticks in this? Say, two in channel A and one in Channel B (or vice versa)?

[bigbubbaj]

You will lose the dual channel
The downside of that board...

Buy 2X2gb... call it done.

[Vlad Drac]

I haven't done it yet (due to $$), but I'm planning to put in 3GB total memory in the following configuration: slot_A1 -1GB, slot_A2 -512MB / slot_B1 -1GB, slot_B2 -512MB. (all same speed sticks)
According to ASUS, this will allow for the full 3GB memory that WindowsXP can handle.
-Vlad

[SixChurchStreet]

Can I mix two 1GB single channel sticks with two 512mb dual channel sticks?

(i already own two single channel 1gb sticks).

[Vlad Drac]

As long as they're all the same speed, i.e. PC3200, or PC2700(whatever the mhz rating is...) for all of them, it should work. It did in my old system, but that could only accept up to 1GB total.
-Vlad

[SixChurchStreet]

Yeah, it would all be PC3200, same brand actually, same timing, same latency too.

[TCM]

Well, I couldn't do it with my K8V SE Dlx board!(had to be 2x1GB in order to run dual channel)
As Bigbubbaj said, you most probably will lose dual channel mode, i.e. RAM will be slower.

Check in your motherboard manual!