Dual channel memory

[mr_g_uk]

I've just purchased a 1gb stick of RAM for my desktop. It previously had 2 x 256mb sticks. I didn't think my PC was dual channel but when I opened it to install today I found that there were 2 differently coloured banks and each of the 256mb were installed in the left slot of these banks. I've put my new 1gb into one of the two empty slots and things have speeded up. Question is will this work OK with the "imbalance" or should I have bought another 1gb for the other side?

[galeck1947]

It will work ok but I would get another 1gb stick and fit it to give you 2gb of ram I am assuming that you are still using XP so with 2gb of ram your computer will be very fast and will handle all tasks you give it. I always fit 2gb of ram on all the computers I service that run XP

[mr_g_uk]

Thanks for that. Yes I'm still running XP on the desktop. When I looked into the type of memory I needed I was told that, whilst my board could take up to 4gb, if it's a 32 bit system then 3gb would be the maximum. Would my system be 32 bit?

[rojash]

"Would my system be 32 bit? "
You'd almost certainly know already if it was 64 bit, but you can check:
Right-click My Computer and choose Properties. If it doesn't mention 64 bit, then it's 32 bit.

If you fit 4 GB in a 32 bit system, it will work fine, but Windows can address only 3 GB. As memory is so cheap, it hardly matters.