Dual channel,quad channel and single channel ram?

[Jforce_1]

Why are there so many channels and which one is the best for your system?Kinda confusing watching youtube tutorials.Any help us greatly appreciated

 

[Herc08]

Well the best way to explain it is to look at a motherboard with 4 or 6 slots. If it has 4 slots, then most likey the slots are going to be different colors, and labeled. In dual channel (most common), RAM is split into two sticks, but combine to make a single number. For instance, 4GBx2, two 4GB sticks combine to make 8GB total. Triple channel works the same, but is never really used as common. And single channel is just one stick.

Now the channel, from what I understand, helps for smoother performance vs a single stick. So a 4GBx2 set should perform a bit smoother than a single 8GB because the system does not have to depend on one stick to do all of its processing.

I hope that helped.

 

[Rogue Leader]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from Jforce_1 : "Dual channel,quad channel and single channel ram?"

Why are there so many channels and which one is the best for your system?Kinda confusing watching youtube tutorials.Any help us greatly appreciated

 

[Rogue Leader]

Most boards are dual channel, on the consumer side only X99 based boards are quad channel. Triple channel no longer is in production.

So what are RAM channels? Think of it like a pipeline for the data to run into and out of your RAM.

If you want to have 8 GB of ram in your system, and you put it all on 1 DIMM (hence 1 channel), well then for your system to address that 8gb all the data needs to go through 1 pipe.

However if you split it to 2 DIMMS 4gb each and install them to 2 difference channels, now that has doubled the amount of pipes and therefore the size of the pipeline for your data to travel in.

This results in increased performance in memory intensive tasks.

 

[supermanu15]

Most boards are dual channel, on the consumer side only X99 based boards are quad channel. Triple channel no longer is in production.

So what are RAM channels? Think of it like a pipeline for the data to run into and out of your RAM.

If you want to have 8 GB of ram in your system, and you put it all on 1 DIMM (hence 1 channel), well then for your system to address that 8gb all the data needs to go through 1 pipe.

However if you split it to 2 DIMMS 4gb each and install them to 2 difference channels, now that has doubled the amount of pipes and therefore the size of the pipeline for your data to travel in.

This results in increased performance in memory intensive tasks.

Question, what happens when there are 4 sticks of let's say, 4GB RAM a total of 16GB in dual channel mode? They say the performance dips a bit because there is more load given to the integrated memory controller that controls the communication between the CPU and the RAM, just curious.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Most boards are dual channel, on the consumer side only X99 based boards are quad channel. Triple channel no longer is in production.

So what are RAM channels? Think of it like a pipeline for the data to run into and out of your RAM.

If you want to have 8 GB of ram in your system, and you put it all on 1 DIMM (hence 1 channel), well then for your system to address that 8gb all the data needs to go through 1 pipe.

However if you split it to 2 DIMMS 4gb each and install them to 2 difference channels, now that has doubled the amount of pipes and therefore the size of the pipeline for your data to travel in.

This results in increased performance in memory intensive tasks.

Question, what happens when there are 4 sticks of let's say, 4GB RAM a total of 16GB in dual channel mode? They say the performance dips a bit because there is more load given to the integrated memory controller that controls the communication between the CPU and the RAM, just curious.

The performance does not dip but in theory it wears on the memory controller more. To be honest its really a non issue, the processor will likely be obsolete before it wears out from that.

 

[supermanu15]

Most boards are dual channel, on the consumer side only X99 based boards are quad channel. Triple channel no longer is in production.

So what are RAM channels? Think of it like a pipeline for the data to run into and out of your RAM.

If you want to have 8 GB of ram in your system, and you put it all on 1 DIMM (hence 1 channel), well then for your system to address that 8gb all the data needs to go through 1 pipe.

However if you split it to 2 DIMMS 4gb each and install them to 2 difference channels, now that has doubled the amount of pipes and therefore the size of the pipeline for your data to travel in.

This results in increased performance in memory intensive tasks.

Question, what happens when there are 4 sticks of let's say, 4GB RAM a total of 16GB in dual channel mode? They say the performance dips a bit because there is more load given to the integrated memory controller that controls the communication between the CPU and the RAM, just curious.

The performance does not dip but in theory it wears on the memory controller more. To be honest its really a non issue, the processor will likely be obsolete before it wears out from that.

Oh ok, I am planning to buy a mobo that has 4 slots in dual channel, and they say that there is a performance dip because it wears on the controller over time, but the fact the motherboard has 4 slots means that it is built for that fuction right? Meaning it is capable of handling those lanes without any issues whatsoever? I am planning to increase gradually from 8gb then 12gb then lastly 16gb and I just want to hear your thoughts on this, it's still connected to the post

 

[Rogue Leader]

Most boards are dual channel, on the consumer side only X99 based boards are quad channel. Triple channel no longer is in production.

So what are RAM channels? Think of it like a pipeline for the data to run into and out of your RAM.

If you want to have 8 GB of ram in your system, and you put it all on 1 DIMM (hence 1 channel), well then for your system to address that 8gb all the data needs to go through 1 pipe.

However if you split it to 2 DIMMS 4gb each and install them to 2 difference channels, now that has doubled the amount of pipes and therefore the size of the pipeline for your data to travel in.

This results in increased performance in memory intensive tasks.

Question, what happens when there are 4 sticks of let's say, 4GB RAM a total of 16GB in dual channel mode? They say the performance dips a bit because there is more load given to the integrated memory controller that controls the communication between the CPU and the RAM, just curious.

The performance does not dip but in theory it wears on the memory controller more. To be honest its really a non issue, the processor will likely be obsolete before it wears out from that.

Oh ok, I am planning to buy a mobo that has 4 slots in dual channel, and they say that there is a performance dip because it wears on the controller over time, but the fact the motherboard has 4 slots means that it is built for that fuction right? Meaning it is capable of handling those lanes without any issues whatsoever? I am planning to increase gradually from 8gb then 12gb then lastly 16gb and I just want to hear your thoughts on this, it's still connected to the post

In the future pleas create your own thread. I didn't realize you were not the OP and while its a related question, you should always start one on your own.

Yes a motherboard with 4 slots is built to handle 4 DIMMs. Memory should be added in pairs to ensure compatibility so going from 8 to 12 to 16 is not a good plan. 8 to 16 should be your upgrade path.

 

[supermanu15]

Most boards are dual channel, on the consumer side only X99 based boards are quad channel. Triple channel no longer is in production.

So what are RAM channels? Think of it like a pipeline for the data to run into and out of your RAM.

If you want to have 8 GB of ram in your system, and you put it all on 1 DIMM (hence 1 channel), well then for your system to address that 8gb all the data needs to go through 1 pipe.

However if you split it to 2 DIMMS 4gb each and install them to 2 difference channels, now that has doubled the amount of pipes and therefore the size of the pipeline for your data to travel in.

This results in increased performance in memory intensive tasks.

Question, what happens when there are 4 sticks of let's say, 4GB RAM a total of 16GB in dual channel mode? They say the performance dips a bit because there is more load given to the integrated memory controller that controls the communication between the CPU and the RAM, just curious.

The performance does not dip but in theory it wears on the memory controller more. To be honest its really a non issue, the processor will likely be obsolete before it wears out from that.

Oh ok, I am planning to buy a mobo that has 4 slots in dual channel, and they say that there is a performance dip because it wears on the controller over time, but the fact the motherboard has 4 slots means that it is built for that fuction right? Meaning it is capable of handling those lanes without any issues whatsoever? I am planning to increase gradually from 8gb then 12gb then lastly 16gb and I just want to hear your thoughts on this, it's still connected to the post

In the future pleas create your own thread. I didn't realize you were not the OP and while its a related question, you should always start one on your own.

Yes a motherboard with 4 slots is built to handle 4 DIMMs. Memory should be added in pairs to ensure compatibility so going from 8 to 12 to 16 is not a good plan. 8 to 16 should be your upgrade path.

Ok thanks sort of figured that since my question is related that since its relevant its ok to ask, but will create my post next time, thanks again