2x4gb + spare stick?

[quantumdawn]

I have an asus p8p67 pro motherboard and a gelid tranquillo CPU cooler. Currently running with 2x2gb dual channel kit.

I bought a 2x4gb dual channel kit to add to the system, for a total of 12gb. Problem is, the fan attached to the CPU cooler blocks the 4th ram slot.

That leaves me with only the 2x4gb installed, and two spare sticks of 2gb lying around unused. Will adding a single 2gb stick of ram increase or decrease system performance since it won't be installed in dual-channel?

 

[jaquith]

Hmm... move the 'Fan' UP. Heck, I'd grind-off a fin or two off the HSF if I had to to make it all fit, and it wouldn't make a difference. A HSF is very low on my totem pole in comparison to my RAM.

The difference in non-Dual Channel with DDR3 is minimal to Dual Channel.

 

[clarkjd]

Also going from 8GB to 10 would have minimal effect. Unless you are doing a lot of video encoding or photoshop, you don't need much more than 4GB.

 

[compulsivebuilder]

Running a single DIMM on some motherboards can disable dual channel completely - so the 2 x 4GB might stop operating in dual channel, and that wouldn't be ideal.

I'd try moving the fan as jaquith suggests, or running with just the 2 x 4GB. Use the 2 x 2GB as an excuse to build another PC

 

[quantumdawn]

That's what I'm worried about. Would 8GB dual channel be better than 10GB single channel?

Is it hard to lift the fan on most CPU heat sinks?

 

[quantumdawn]

That's what I'm worried about. Would 8GB dual channel be better than 10GB single channel?

Is it hard to lift the fan on most CPU heat sinks?

 

[jaquith]

As I said, you are NOT running Dual Channel with '3' sticks; odd number or unequal size/channel breaks Dual Channel -> "The difference in non-Dual Channel with DDR3 is minimal to Dual Channel"

Q - What's the problem not to raising the fan...?

 

[quantumdawn]

Best answer selected by quantumdawn.