Dual or quad channel memory for an X79 mobo...

[googoohead]

I'm buying a computer from a boutique custom computer company. (Because of poor eyesight, I don't think I can build the system myself.) I can't afford to buy all the MEMORY right now. I originally wanted 16GB, and later, I'd get another 16GB. But now I can only get 8GB of memory. Later, I'll get 8 more.

But I don't understand how this dual and quad channel thing works. On the computer company's components list, I thought I should get the 8GB in QUAD CHANNEL. But I only found DUAL CHANNEL for 8GB of memory… and quad channel for 16GB, (2 sticks for the 8MB, and 4 sticks for the 16).

I'm getting an X79 mobo, which supports quad channel memory.

Does quad and dual channel depend on how many sticks you have installed?
Are there issues with quad channel memory on an X79 mobo?
If I get the 8GB of dual channel memory, and then add another 8GB later, does that mean I'll now have quad channel???

I'd really appreciate help with this! And thanx in advance.

Please try and be as clear and literal as possible. I'm an Aspergers person.

 

[Ovisss4]

There isnt quad channel there is dual. So your mobo will support two dual chanels. What you see on Ram package is how many sticks it contains.

 

[Spectre694]

There isnt quad channel there is dual. So your mobo will support two dual chanels. What you see on Ram package is how many sticks it contains.

That is not correct. There are single, dual, triple, and quad channel for desktop computers. It depends on your processor and mobo.

 

[bignastyid]

There isnt quad channel there is dual. So your mobo will support two dual chanels. What you see on Ram package is how many sticks it contains.

If this is true how am I currently running quad channel on my X79 board?

 

[bignastyid]

Quad channel requires 4 sticks of ram and a chipset that supports it(x79). Dual channel requires atleast 2 sticks. I am currently running 16Gb(4x4Gb) of ram in quad channel on my system and it works just fine. Yes you can install 8Gb(2x4Gb) now in dual channel and add another 8Gb(2x4Gb) later for quad channel.

 

[Spectre694]

The channel number does depend on the number of sticks installed. What it means is that it can address (read/write) to a certain number of sticks at a time the purpose is to speed up memory dependent application (rendering, editing etc.:
Single: one
Dual: two
Triple: three
Quad: four

If you get two 4Gb sticks then you will run in dual channel mode not as fast as quad. Your board is designed for quad channel and will support up to 8 sticks of RAM or two quad channels.

However, depending on what you are doing you probably don't need a X79 board and would be better off with a cheaper Z87 board.

 

[Pinhedd]

I'm buying a computer from a boutique custom computer company. (Because of poor eyesight, I don't think I can build the system myself.) I can't afford to buy all the MEMORY right now. I originally wanted 16GB, and later, I'd get another 16GB. But now I can only get 8GB of memory. Later, I'll get 8 more.

But I don't understand how this dual and quad channel thing works. On the computer company's components list, I thought I should get the 8GB in QUAD CHANNEL. But I only found DUAL CHANNEL for 8GB of memory… and quad channel for 16GB, (2 sticks for the 8MB, and 4 sticks for the 16).

I'm getting an X79 mobo, which supports quad channel memory.

Does quad and dual channel depend on how many sticks you have installed?
Are there issues with quad channel memory on an X79 mobo?
If I get the 8GB of dual channel memory, and then add another 8GB later, does that mean I'll now have quad channel???

I'd really appreciate help with this! And thanx in advance.

Please try and be as clear and literal as possible. I'm an Aspergers person.

All memory channels are independent. There's no technical difference between a single DIMM, a pair of DIMMs in a dual-channel kit, three DIMMs in a triple-channel kit, or four DIMMs in a quad-channel kit.

DIMMs found in dual, triple, and quad channel kits have simply been tested to work together in those configurations for quality assurance purposes.

You may purchase a pair of dual channel kits, a single quad channel kit, or twice as many of each if your platform has 8 DIMM slots (two per channel).

As for functionality, the platform will only use as many memory channels as are populated. If you purchase only one stick it will run in single-channel mode. If you purchase two sticks, it will run in dual-channel mode. If you purchase three it will run in triple-channel mode, and if you purchase 4 it will run in quad-channel mode which is most desirable.

You may go from dual-channel to quad-channel at a later date if you wish without consequence, but it may be more practical and cheaper to do so at first.

 

[Tradesman1]

Biggest difference in using different channel configs is that DRAM itself, each stick is a single 64 bit device and the MC (memory controller sees each channel as a 64 bit device, when in dual channel, it will 'see' the DRAM as a single 128 bit device, tri shows as 192 bit device, and quad is used as a 256 bit device, so the DRAM runs faster that way

 

[googoohead]

Thanx for such great answers... and so quickly.

I have one more question. Someone told me to populate ALL 8 slots. I asked him why, and he just seemed to become angry and did not tell me why he said this.

 

[bignastyid]

Thanx for such great answers... and so quickly.

I have one more question. Someone told me to populate ALL 8 slots. I asked him why, and he just seemed to become angry and did not tell me why he said this.

Sometimes populating all the slots in a system that uses non ecc memory is a bad idea as it loads up the memory controller and many times you have to increase voltages and/or relax the timings to stabilize the ram.

 

[Tradesman1]

On an X79 which is quad channel, unless you are going to run 64 GB, only populate 1 stick per channel , allows you to run 4, 8, 16 or 32 GB of DRAm, running say 8x4GB (32 total) simply adds to the stress on your MC (memory controller) and if OCing can adversely effect your end result OC