dual channel on new AW??? - Page 2

Re: It is Dual Channel

Thanks for the info. Do all the R.2 motherboards come with the dual channel enabled by default when 2 sticks of either DDR333 or DDR400 is installed? I'm only asking to verify these R.2 motherboards weren't released before the dual channel was enabled and some people can flash the bios possibly and enable the option.

Ok guys.. i will say this again. No firmware, software, or anything else will EVER make the SIS 648 support dual-channel DDR. Unless AW is now using the 655, this is false advertising.

Re: It is Dual Channel

Yeah. How do I know if I have a R.2 MoBo? I ordered on the 28th with PC-3200 Ram.

I ordered on the 23rd and I have it so I am sure you have it as well...just call and ask a rep to email you your specs for your records...don't ask them anything so that you don't just get an automatic yes...inspect your email and then call back if you have a prob...

None of this settles the question whether it is dual channel or not. Divine has a point but I wonder if the mobo had a specific revision for this purpose or for AW specifically? I wish we could get a definitive answer from someone...dare I call sales at AW???

Gamer.. past changing the chipset, NO revision could upgrade the 648 to dual channel. Period. It is not in the silicon. They would have had to change to the 655 or intel 865.

Anyway, i am gonna call AW's sales, and see what i can find..

Well, the demo model I benched in the review section was:
according to the order.

and I benched it with 2 512MB sticks of DDR333 as it was ordered. From looking at the Sandra scores I assume the one I tested does not have the dual channel enabled if it can be. So if it is possible to enable the dual channel DDR I would like to do that and I'll post up the results.

Also, a lot of people are confused with the video card. Is the user going to be able to order another GPU from Alienware to swap or does it need to be sent in? If it can be ordered I want to get the ATI GPU to swap and post up the results with a write up on the swap procedures.

Adam.. can u run Sandra on it, and find what chipset it has (since it is a Rev 2?)

Hey Adam...when I ordered I asked about the gpu...the sales rep told me that they will soon offer the cards separately so that you can order and install it yourself...so just call and ask is all I can say...btw there were some questions posted in regards to your review that are still in limbo...when you get a chance!



PS: thanks divine...you sound much more knowledgeable than me on this...I am dying to hear the result of your call!!!

Ok.. just got off the phone with "Rod" (i think), and he told me it was the SIS648 on the "dual channel" ram config. Either he is just reading from outdated info, or AW is going with SHADY tactics.....

This is seriously getting more and more interesting. They draw ALOT of attention to the "dual channel" aspect on the top of the config page; If it was a "shady" remark I would assume they wouldnt make it so prominent. RAM in its own right cant be dual channel anyway...its the mobo that decides that...so wtf.

Keep up the detective work, I think ill make my own phonecalls too...

I encourage people to do so... if it was just that guy, then it may still be an upgraded chip. But, i tend to doubt it.....

My guess is that Alienware doesn't know what dual channel means, the web master probably read on the ram box "suitable for dual channel based systems" and got carried away.

Ok...I just contacted a friend of mine who works at AW and she sent me the following email:

Regarding your question, the SiS motherboards that Alienware uses for the new PC-3200 RAM utilized by the Area-51m Mobile systems are actually Revision-2 models --- and yes, they are dual channel capable, optimized and tested by Alienware.

I hope the information provided here will at least be helpful if not sufficient.

If you need further information or if you have any questions, clarifications or perhaps any concerns regarding the future Alienware Order you wish to place, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Alienware. Our office hours are from 9am to 9pm (eastern) on weekdays and from 10am to 6pm on Saturdays.If you need further information or if you have any questions, clarifications or perhaps any concerns regarding the future Alienware Order you wish to place, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Alienware Sales Department at 1-800-4943382. Our office hours are from 9am to 9pm (eastern) on weekdays and from 10am to 6pm on Saturdays.

So does this mean this is true? I would most likely assume so because this would be grounds for a law suit if they falsely supplied info to customers. Divine-I know that you stated it is impossible for this to be true with the current chip set, but isn't it possible that this revision 2 they speak of added this functionality to the mobo?

Impossible? No, but some things have to change first.

Either, SIS totally redesigned the 648 JUST for AW, to add a feature that was exclusive to the 655, or AW changed chipsets to the 655, or Intel 865. This is not a matter of a few traces needing to be added. This is a case of the northbridge not having the physical support FOR such a feature.

Can you email her back, and find out what hcipset it is using?

I ordered min 9/16 and I went and looked at my specs and I have the v2 as well. does that mean I can turn my 1gb of ddr333 into dual channel?

Divine-email is sent and as soon as I get a response I will post...quick side question-this whole user upgradeable graphics card is that a feature on all sis648 mobo's or is unique to AW? If this is actually unique then couldn't other aspects of the mobo be unique as well?

...good to know! This is why I leave the tech stuff for the techs!!!

Where do I got to see if I have revision 2 mobo! I must find out!