channel(s)

anbo369

anbo369

Member
hey peeps the noob is back... again, and he has another question for you all.

whats better dual channel or single channel ram?

does single channel mean only the one size is used? and if its bad, why?

cheers
 
Welcome back anbo369!

Dual Channel memory setups are better than Single Channel. In theory, the dual channel setup will have twice the bandwidth of the single channel setup. This is a parallel configuration where two memory modules can be accessed by the memory controller at the same time. In a single channel setup, only one memory module can be accessed at a time.

A single channel setup does not mean that only one "size' (assuming you mean RAM module size - 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, etc.) is used. Actually, in many cases you can use mixed sizes as pairs in a dual channel setup, though for best performance and stability it is recommended to use matched pairs - i.e. two 1GB modules.

Let me know if that covers it for you or if you have further questions.
 
so dual channel basicly means using 2 RAM's at the same time where single Channel can only use one?

thanks a ton for your help!
 
There's a difference between a system that's setup to run Dual Channel and one that's setup for Single Channel.

Most obviously, newer systems with Dual Channel support have newer memory, DDR2 and DDR3.

Most Single Channel setups are older and don't run the newer RAM.
 
oh well that makes everything easier! :)
If its it not their to choose then that's one less thing i have to worry about.! :)

cheers!
 
Glad to help anbo369.

Bodaggit23 is right. Nearly all modern systems are at least dual-channel capable. Just keep in mind that to run in a dual- or triple-channel mode, you must have two or three RAM modules installed in the proper slots. These are usually the same colored slots on the motherboard.

Just because a system is dual- or triple-channel capable does not mean that it won't run in single channel mode if the RAM is installed incorrectly.
 
so if i want it to run in dual channel i have to put one stick in say the blue DIMM and one stick in the white DIMM?
(just pulled out random colours)
 
anbo369 said:
so if i want it to run in dual channel i have to put one stick in say the blue DIMM and one stick in the white DIMM?
(just pulled out random colours)
Click to expand...

Nope, they'd have to be in the same color combos (blue/blue, white/white, yellow/yellow, red/red... you're smart, you get the idea ;))
 
Also, on a side note, sticks that run on a channel (the pair of sticks in same-coloured slots) should be the same size, like 2x2GB, but you could also have something like 2x2GB + 2X1GB. Some Intel boards have this mode called asynchronous dual-channel that allows mixing sticks of different sizes for some kinda bastardised dual-channel setup that improves performance somewhat, but doesn't come close to real dual-channel.
 
hackapelite said:
you could also have something like 2x2GB + 2X1GB
Click to expand...

That's how I understand it to be correct.

As long as the memory is installed in pairs on a dual channel board, it's installed properly. I'm not sure how having all the slots filled evenly would not run in "real" dual channel.
 
oh i get it now! thanks so much guys!

but how come i have seen pics where people have seperated the sticks between the two channels.
so 1 in blue and 1 in white or whatever? are those peoples retardarised?

thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top