Is this memory DUAL CHANNEL?

[killerabdb]

OK I'm extremely confused because of what someone else said. Is this RAM CMK8GX4M2A2666C16 DUAL CHANNEL? If you click that link and go to the specifications tab, it says dual channel, however someone else on my other thread said it is single channel. Also on this website it says dual channel.

Is it single channel or dual channel?

 

[kanewolf]

Since there are two DIMMs in the kit, it will run as dual channel. The number of DIMMs determines the number of channels. Two DIMMs == dual channel. If you have a motherboard with four DIMM slots, you could put the two DIMMs from the kit in the wrong slots and force it to run single channel. You should check your motherboard manual for the correct slots for dual channel installation.

 

[killerabdb]

Since there are two DIMMs in the kit, it will run as dual channel. The number of DIMMs determines the number of channels. Two DIMMs == dual channel. If you have a motherboard with four DIMM slots, you could put the two DIMMs from the kit in the wrong slots and force it to run single channel. You should check your motherboard manual for the correct slots for dual channel installation.

I already have two DIMMs installed in slot A2 and slot B2 on the ASUS PRIME Z370-P motherboard which is what my motherboard manual says I should do for 2 x 4GB (it's currently running in dual channel mode). The two empty slots are A1 and B1, so I'm guessing I should just put the other two in those slots?

 

[kanewolf]

Since there are two DIMMs in the kit, it will run as dual channel. The number of DIMMs determines the number of channels. Two DIMMs == dual channel. If you have a motherboard with four DIMM slots, you could put the two DIMMs from the kit in the wrong slots and force it to run single channel. You should check your motherboard manual for the correct slots for dual channel installation.

I already have two DIMMs installed in slot A2 and slot B2 on the ASUS PRIME Z370-P motherboard which is what my motherboard manual says I should do for 2 x 4GB (it's currently running in dual channel mode). The two empty slots are A1 and B1, so I'm guessing I should just put the other two in those slots?

That is a slightly different question, because now you are asking about MIXING RAM. That kit may or may not play well with the RAM you already have installed. I you want 16GB, I would recommend buying a two DIMM kit and selling your existing RAM. There is no compatibility question and you can run two DIMMs at higher clock than four DIMMs in most cases.

 

[killerabdb]

Since there are two DIMMs in the kit, it will run as dual channel. The number of DIMMs determines the number of channels. Two DIMMs == dual channel. If you have a motherboard with four DIMM slots, you could put the two DIMMs from the kit in the wrong slots and force it to run single channel. You should check your motherboard manual for the correct slots for dual channel installation.

I already have two DIMMs installed in slot A2 and slot B2 on the ASUS PRIME Z370-P motherboard which is what my motherboard manual says I should do for 2 x 4GB (it's currently running in dual channel mode). The two empty slots are A1 and B1, so I'm guessing I should just put the other two in those slots?

That is a slightly different question, because now you are asking about MIXING RAM. That kit may or may not play well with the RAM you already have installed. I you want 16GB, I would recommend buying a two DIMM kit and selling your existing RAM. There is no compatibility question and you can run two DIMMs at higher clock than four DIMMs in most cases.

Oh yes I have the exact same RAM as the one I mentioned above. Same brand, speed, voltage, cas latency etc.

 

[kanewolf]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

 

[killerabdb]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

 

[kanewolf]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

Not saying WON'T. Saying might not. There is no guarantee. That is the whole point of buying a kit. They are guaranteed by the manufacturer to work as a set. Put that set with another "same" set and they might work fine at 2666 or they might only work at 2133. You are on your own to make them work. So how much risk is it worth? Is the cost delta between buying a 16GB kit, and selling your 8GB verses buying another 8GB kit worth it? I can't answer that. I can only say that I would buy the 16GB kit and sell the existing 8GB.

 

[killerabdb]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

Not saying WON'T. Saying might not. There is no guarantee. That is the whole point of buying a kit. They are guaranteed by the manufacturer to work as a set. Put that set with another "same" set and they might work fine at 2666 or they might only work at 2133. You are on your own to make them work. So how much risk is it worth? Is the cost delta between buying a 16GB kit, and selling your 8GB verses buying another 8GB kit worth it? I can't answer that. I can only say that I would buy the 16GB kit and sell the existing 8GB.

In my case it's different. Because what I'm basically doing is going to the official Corsair website and buying a 16GB kit with 4 x 4GB of RAM. This is guaranteed to work. And that's what I'm literally doing.

 

[kanewolf]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

Not saying WON'T. Saying might not. There is no guarantee. That is the whole point of buying a kit. They are guaranteed by the manufacturer to work as a set. Put that set with another "same" set and they might work fine at 2666 or they might only work at 2133. You are on your own to make them work. So how much risk is it worth? Is the cost delta between buying a 16GB kit, and selling your 8GB verses buying another 8GB kit worth it? I can't answer that. I can only say that I would buy the 16GB kit and sell the existing 8GB.

In my case it's different. Because what I'm basically doing is going to the official Corsair website and buying a 16GB kit with 4 x 4GB of RAM. This is guaranteed to work. And that's what I'm literally doing.

That isn't what you said a couple posts ago. You said "No, I purchased the same item a month ago". To me that says you are currently in possession of two 4GB DIMMs and you are asking about buying two more 4GB DIMMs to have a total of four 4GB DIMMs (from two kits).

I don't know what you have or are doing. We are not communicating well.

If you are buying a four DIMM kit, then the original link you posted is not that kit. A four DIMM kit will work as a set. If it doesn't you return the whole kit.

 

[killerabdb]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

Not saying WON'T. Saying might not. There is no guarantee. That is the whole point of buying a kit. They are guaranteed by the manufacturer to work as a set. Put that set with another "same" set and they might work fine at 2666 or they might only work at 2133. You are on your own to make them work. So how much risk is it worth? Is the cost delta between buying a 16GB kit, and selling your 8GB verses buying another 8GB kit worth it? I can't answer that. I can only say that I would buy the 16GB kit and sell the existing 8GB.

In my case it's different. Because what I'm basically doing is going to the official Corsair website and buying a 16GB kit with 4 x 4GB of RAM. This is guaranteed to work. And that's what I'm literally doing.

That isn't what you said a couple posts ago. You said "No, I purchased the same item a month ago". To me that says you are currently in possession of two 4GB DIMMs and you are asking about buying two more 4GB DIMMs to have a total of four 4GB DIMMs (from two kits).

I don't know what you have or are doing. We are not communicating well.

If you are buying a four DIMM kit, then the original link you posted is not that kit. A four DIMM kit will work as a set. If it doesn't you return the whole kit.

Wait, are you saying that there is a possibility that a 4 DIMM kit from the Corsair website wouldn't work in dual channel? Even if Corsair say it will?

 

[kanewolf]

I am NOT saying a 4 DIMM kit won't work in dual channel. What I said is that if there is a defective DIMM in a kit, the entire kit has to be returned to the manufacturer for replacement. You can't return one DIMM. In the same sentences I said "A four DIMM kit will work as a set"...

I did say "We are not communicating well". Your continuing to interpret my statements as negatives is proof of that.

 

[USAFRet]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

Disregard thinking about "dual channel" for now. We're talking about actually working at all.

Buying 4 x 4GB, as a specified kit, will work.

Buying 2 x 4GB last month, and buying another 2 x 4GB now...may not work.
It "probably" will, but not guaranteed 100%
Even if you purchased the exact same thing.

A 4 x 4GB kit WILL work.
2 x 4GB + 2 x 4GB might not work.

 

[killerabdb]

You may have the "exact same RAM" and they may play well. But there is no guarantee. A two DIMM kit is guaranteed to work with itself, but not guaranteed to work with any others. It is a risk question. Might work, might not. It is not the best method.

No, I purchased the same item a month ago, now I want to purchase the same item again. Literally the same. Are you saying that buying 4 x 4gb won't work? Because it's the exact same model number and everything.

Disregard thinking about "dual channel" for now. We're talking about actually working at all.

Buying 4 x 4GB, as a specified kit, will work.

Buying 2 x 4GB last month, and buying another 2 x 4GB now...may not work.
It "probably" will, but not guaranteed 100%
Even if you purchased the exact same thing.

A 4 x 4GB kit WILL work.
2 x 4GB + 2 x 4GB might not work.

OK, I understand. I have a question, is there a special model number for each 4GB stick? When I bought 8GB 2 x 4gb RAM, the model number was CMK8GX4M2A2666C16, but when I checked each individual 4GB stick, it says on the back that the model/part number is CM4X4GF2666C16K4, which is different. Why?

 

[USAFRet]

OK, I understand. I have a question, is there a special model number for each 4GB stick? When I bought 8GB 2 x 4gb RAM, the model number was CMK8GX4M2A2666C16, but when I checked each individual 4GB stick, it says on the back that the model/part number is CM4X4GF2666C16K4, which is different. Why?

The "8G" denotes an 8GB kit.
The "4G" is each individual stick.

Hence, this is why you buy RAM as a specific kit.

 

[killerabdb]

OK, I understand. I have a question, is there a special model number for each 4GB stick? When I bought 8GB 2 x 4gb RAM, the model number was CMK8GX4M2A2666C16, but when I checked each individual 4GB stick, it says on the back that the model/part number is CM4X4GF2666C16K4, which is different. Why?

The "8G" denotes an 8GB kit.
The "4G" is each individual stick.

Hence, this is why you buy RAM as a specific kit.

Thanks, I did buy the RAM as a kit. But I was a bit shocked to see a different model number for each 4gb stick as the whole 8gb kit has a different number.