"Ed Light" wrote in message
news:6Zpxf.8872$jR.3807@fed1read01...
3 sticks of 512 will either go back to single channel or not run at all. It
should show allowed socket populations in the motherboard manual.

If you mean, you will use two dual channel kits of 2 x 256, then since
they don't match they may not run in dual channel. If they do, you can run
them at the speed of the slow ones. If they're all pc3200 they may default
to pc2700, which K8's can tend to do with 4 sticks, but you can try
setting them to pc3200 manually and see if they can pass memtest86
overnight, or even boot up. My board accepts it, no problem.

However, when you set it manually to pc3200 it may mistakenly keep tighter
timings that it may have set while on auto at pc2700. So, I'd write down
what it chose for pc3200 before starting in with the 4 sticks. Then, lock
them in by going to manual. After manually setting pc3200, check up on
them -- you can set them all manually from the paper. Had to do that on
mine. The memory actually ran ok on the tighter timings, but memtest
pronounced it slower than with the looser timings!


--
Ed Light

Pardon the interruption for what may be a "dumb" question.
I've recently added a second pair of matched 512 meg PC4000 modules to my
A8V Deluxe.
It now sports 4 512 Meg modules (all same mfg and specs).
When I look in my BIOS, the setting for the memory is "Auto" and I can't
figure out how to see what speed it's actually running at. I realize that I
can set it manually, but is there some utility that will show the actual
speed?
I've got my 3200+ Winchester running at 2.5 GHz.
FWIW, I don't perceive and reduction in performance in normal use.