GA-EX58-UD3R - memory upgrade

[SSH]

Hi all, first post here, but an admirer of the boards for some time.

Hope someone can help.

I've a GA-EX58-UD3R mobo, currently running 6GB of DDR3 RAM which is taking up 3 of the 4 available slots.
It's my understanding that if I add memory to the 4th slot it can have a negative performance impact - but is this only an issue if this 4th slot is populated with DDR2 RAM?
If DDR3 memory is tri-channel why does this 4th slot exist?

If I wanted to expand my memory could I:
Buy 3 x 4GB sticks for a total of 12GB
Or
Buy 4 x 4GB sticks for a total of 16GB
And again, with this last config, as I'll need to use the 4th slot, is there a performance hit?

Thanks in advance.

 

[GhislainG]

You can't install DDR2 memory in a DDR3 motherboard.

The fourth slot can be used, but memory in the blue slot will run in single channel mode. You should read the notes at http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-ex58-ud3r_1.7.pdf as well as the user manual.

 

[jaquith]

Welcome to Tom's Forum!

First, all of the RAM is DDR3. You have (2) Choices: 1. Tri Channel or 2. Broken Channel.

The performance hit with DDR3 breaking the Tri Channel isn't much, but 12GB is plenty for the majority of folks that is unless they're Rendering.

If you need the RAM (16GB) then sure go for a nice 4X4GB kit of DDR3-1600 otherwise for Gaming and general purpose 3X4GB.

4X4GB DDR3-1600 Kits -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006073%20600006127&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&CompareItemList=147%7C20-233-143%5E20-233-143-TS%2C20-145-347%5E20-145-347-TS%2C20-226-283%5E20-226-283-TS%2C20-226-273%5E20-226-273-TS%2C20-226-299%5E20-226-299-TS
The 4X4GB Corsair CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9 is fine.

3X4GB Kits DDR3-1600 Kits -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006078%20600006127&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&CompareItemList=147%7C20-233-146%5E20-233-146-TS%2C20-226-100%5E20-226-100-TS%2C20-226-204%5E20-226-204-TS%2C20-226-192%5E20-226-192-TS%2C20-226-239%5E20-226-239-TS
The 3X4GB Corsair CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9

The Mushkin kits perform slightly better but are more expensive.

 

[SSH]

You can't install DDR2 memory in a DDR3 motherboard.

The fourth slot can be used, but memory in the blue slot will run in single channel mode. You should read the notes at http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-ex58-ud3r_1.7.pdf as well as the user manual.

Hi GhislainG - thanks for the response.
Sorry I read the term 'dual channel' and confused this with DDR2. I should have understood that this meant DDR3 memory can be inserted to work in dual channel mode (or tri-channel mode)

The link you pointed me to, thank, but the largest DIMM detailed on it is 2GB, whereas memory sites suggest 4GB DIMMS can be used on the GA-EX58-UD3R board.

Cheers.

 

[SSH]

Welcome to Tom's Forum!

First, all of the RAM is DDR3. You have (2) Choices: 1. Tri Channel or 2. Broken Channel.

The performance hit with DDR3 breaking the Tri Channel isn't much, but 12GB is plenty for the majority of folks that is unless they're Rendering.

If you need the RAM (16GB) then sure go for a nice 4X4GB kit of DDR3-1600 otherwise for Gaming and general purpose 3X4GB.

4X4GB DDR3-1600 Kits -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006073%20600006127&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&CompareItemList=147%7C20-233-143%5E20-233-143-TS%2C20-145-347%5E20-145-347-TS%2C20-226-283%5E20-226-283-TS%2C20-226-273%5E20-226-273-TS%2C20-226-299%5E20-226-299-TS
The 4X4GB Corsair CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9 is fine.

3X4GB Kits DDR3-1600 Kits -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006078%20600006127&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&CompareItemList=147%7C20-233-146%5E20-233-146-TS%2C20-226-100%5E20-226-100-TS%2C20-226-204%5E20-226-204-TS%2C20-226-192%5E20-226-192-TS%2C20-226-239%5E20-226-239-TS
The 3X4GB Corsair CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9

The Mushkin kits perform slightly better but are more expensive.

Hi Jaquith. Thanks for the welcome.

You've gone beyond answering my question by posting those links to compatible memory deals.

Performance is not the reason for the ram upgrade. I'll soon be running multiple virtual machines so I'll want all the ram I can squeeze in. I'm a bit limited now. So I'll do some maths and decide between 12 and 16GB. The prices have come way down since I bought the originals.

Many thanks for taking the time.

 

[GhislainG]

Hi GhislainG - thanks for the response.
Sorry I read the term 'dual channel' and confused this with DDR2. I should have understood that this meant DDR3 memory can be inserted to work in dual channel mode (or tri-channel mode)

The link you pointed me to, thank, but the largest DIMM detailed on it is 2GB, whereas memory sites suggest 4GB DIMMS can be used on the GA-EX58-UD3R board.

Cheers.

I wanted you to read the notes. As jaquith suggested, buy a 4x4GB kit. To run VMs, you want stability over maximum performance.

 

[SSH]

I wanted you to read the notes. As jaquith suggested, buy a 4x4GB kit. To run VMs, you want stability over maximum performance.

I'd read the notes\manual Jaquith, but when you're not familiar with the tech\jargon deciphering is not that easy, hence why I turned to this forum. It's fine to suggest to a poster to 'stop being lazy..go and read the notes' but that's not always the answer. I mean I don't think it says anywhere in the notes that the blue channel will run as single channel...but because of the answers here I can work that out.
Ultimately, I really do appreciate that you took time out to read my post and respond.

Stability is definitely the most important factor for me. That I suppose and a decent disk..so I need to look into that now too..shopping shopping shopping!

Many thanks.

 

[SSH]

Best answer selected by SSH.

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr.