Dual channel RAM in triple channel MOBO

[KeFeaR]

Hi

My question is if I can use dual channel ram on a triple channel motherboard.

Motherboard details from cpu-z:
Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Model: P6T
Chipset: Intel X58
Southbridge: Intel 82801JR (ICH1OR)
LPCIO: Winbond W83667HG

The mobo has 6 ram slots.

Before I used 3x2GB ram units in slots 1-3-5. One unit died and I am currently running on 2x2GB in slots 1-3. I can't replace it because this model is pretty much impossible to come by nowadays.

I'm looking at 2x4GB RAM units to replace my current. My question is if they will they be working optimally if I use them in my 6-slot MOBO, e.g. two 4GB RAM in slots 1-3. Or will it be better to get triple kit (which are significantly more expensive).

I can't find anything online about wether my motherboard supports dual or triple channel RAM, or even both. It is a PC I got second-hand and I don't have any documents, manuals or anything. Also I don't know particularly much about IT and even less about hardware.


In short, can I just smack 2 units of the same model of RAM in my 6-slot motherboard and get optimal results, or is it crucial that I get a three-part kit.

Thanks in advance

I almost forgot, the RAM I used was clocked at 1600mhz. Do I need to get RAM of the same mhz?

 

[Richard Ricardo]

You need to get RAM that the processor and motherboard will support which is most likely 1066MHz, 1333MHz or 1600MHz. Also, if you're using 2x2GB RAM sticks in slots 1 and 3, you should be able to put 2x4GB RAM sticks into those slots.

 

[IInuyasha74]

you won't have an issue with pretty much any RAM. While they may not officially list support for a RAM speed, I have never seen or heard of anyone having issue running 1600Mhz RAM on a 1066Mhz motherboard for example.

Your RAM must match is a prerequisite for anything you do. However, as long as they match they will work in any configuration, meaning you can use 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 RAM sticks and you won't experience crashing or other issues of any kind assuming all of the RAM and RAM slots work.

There is a performance loss if you only use two RAM sticks though. A RAM channel is defined by the 64-bit connection that connects it to the CPU. Single channel gets you 64-bit connection, dual channel configuration gets you 128-bit, and triple channel gets you 192-bit. This has an effect of multiplying RAM performance. For example, RAM performance in dual-channel configuration is 2x the performance of single-channel, and triple-channel configuration is 3x the performance of single channel. The reason for this is the "64-bit" connection is actually physically 64 wires inside the motherboard, and simple enough the more wires the more information can be sent over them at the same time.

However, it is important to point out that not all applications take advantage of this and may not seem any faster between the different configurations. Still, to get the most performance using triple-channel configuration is advised.