Dual Channel (2 x 4GB) vs Single Channel (3 x 4GB)

[slyu9213]

Dual Channel (2 x 4GB) v Single Channel (3 x 4GB)?

So I have an Acer Aspire V3-771G-9809. I have been using 16GB (4 x 4GB) of RAM for the past year. Recently I have been having problems with my computer and it seems that the problems were one of the two 4GB sticks I purchased later on. I have yet to see if both are corrupt with errors but I know it's one of these two. With all four sticks I get over 3000 errors through memory tests, but when I remove the two I upgraded later the errors and BSOD's are gone. So what I'm wondering is will there be a bottleneck from using 3 x 4GB of RAM on my laptop compared to using 2 x 4GB. 8GB was fine for me to begin with but I got 16GB because I could potentially use up to 11GB of more when doing some serious photo editing. Currently I'm not doing intensive photo work so I don't need it. I'm also thinking of getting a MacBook Pro Retina or at least a lightweight yet powerful laptop/ultrabook. This is due to the stress when carrying the 7-8lb laptop along with 20-30lbs of books 5-14 hours a day.

So the question what are the differences in Dual Channel and Single channel in my situation.

 

[AxlFone]

Try test it. Use performance test like this?
Maybe there is better but this is only what didcome in my mind.

http://www.passmark.com/download/pt_download.htm

This will test whole pc performance. Memory , HDD cpu video card.

That will tell u something about memory performance

 

[Tradesman1]

It's probably just that the laptop doesn't like the two different DRAM models together, and with laptops, not a lot you can do unless your BIOS allows for adjusting voltages and timings (few laptops do).... Any time you mix DRAM it can be problematic which is why it's always best to get a single package of DRAM in the full amount you want, that you are assured that all sticks are tested to play together

 

[AxlFone]

I think it must be enough if they are same MHz and Cl timings sticks. Volts too.
But sure I can be wrong here

 

[Tradesman1]

DRAM makers wish it was that easy also, then they wouldn' have to spend all that time testing just to make up sets of sticks, that's why single sticks are inexpensive, then buying a two stick set is a little more (they test to make sure they'll play together, then an even higher price for 4 sticks in a single package (takes more testing, especially at higher freqs)DDR2 was generally fairly easy to mix, but the tolerances in DDR3 are much higher, and will be even higher in DDR4,,,if was a simple as many tell folks it is all the time, then the makers would simply sell single stick packages and not worry about testing or any of the QC that drives package prices up - and they'd make more money....

 

[AxlFone]

Yeah I know the story. We happy with desktops. For now anyway.
I did get rally cheap X-58 mobo + 960 cpu.
So I did buy first memory 6GB Gskill NCQ 1600MHz +cooler and some other pats. Then I was happy and used my "new build"
Did buy SSDs and HDDs and what ever. Anyway did saw some guy selling cheap used 1333MHz kit same memory. I did buy that . Then I did have 12GB memory. I did stick memory in and did not remeber that I was OC'd the memory for 1833MHz. so boot went just fine. Did work about 1h and then bsod 😀 I was thinking what heck. Was memory now working.
So new boot dropped memory to 1600MHz and it works just fine. Even today. But I have two 1600 sticks in this X-79 build now so.
And all Gskill and corsair works just fine 1866MHz
Sure laptops are not so easy. So maybe Im good with this for now.
And wait for new DDR 4 to come out. Then new mobo and cpu.

This just one story of mysterious PC world. Sometimes wrong DDR 3 is not working with mobo. I have seen issues witk kingston and asrock mobo. It did not boot with kingston memory. But after bios update it did work just fine. No one cant really explain why. Sometimes it just do not work. I know.

 

[slyu9213]

Well to sum things up after testing my RAM for errors I learned that one of the ones I purchased went bad. The Memory Tester picked up thousands of errors and the number kept rising when I quit the test. Removing the bad stick of memory made everything run stable again.