Looking for a definitive 3 sticks of RAM in a dual channel board answer...

[doesntevenMATer]

I recently decided to upgrade my main system's case to a Fractal Design Node 804 and since it has a side window I planned to replace a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO with the more attractive Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3. I did my research and knew the "DR3" has clearance issues with the DIMM slots, but decided to go for it anyway assuming that since my RAM (4 x G. Skill Ares 4GB-1600) is pretty low profile I would be OK. Now that I have the unit on hand it indeed has clearance issues, no matter how low your RAM is. (I will also have to file down one side of the backplate and remove a small piece of the TUF Armor on my Asus Z87 Gryphon).

Does anyone know definitely that I am better off running 2 DIMMs rather than trying to run 3 in my mobo?

At this point I am predicting I'll end up having to buy a 2 x 8GB kit, but wanted to ask around before spending more money.

Thanks!

 

[Quest_Skyrim]

Dual channel means it will work as actually 64 bit for each DIMM channel (in the end it is 128 bit for a paired RAM kit) to memory controller. When you use three DIMM instead of four, one channel have to work in single channel, if memory controller will be able to handle such configuration. You will probably be forced to set your system to use single channel mode in BIOS/UEFI depending on what layout your main board are designed to handle and what your IMC on your processor will be able to work with.

The best option will almost always be to have as few DIMM active as possible to avoid the possibility of crosstalk from PCB on your main board and the probability for memory chips (IC) that isn't identical on each memory module which have been confirmed to work in pair during production before being put together to a PCB on a DIMM.

If you look and at this picture on a wiki (see link) you will understand better that even a DIMM consist of several ICs that might produce crosstalk when put on a DIMM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIMM

You should read your manual on page 1-9 to 1-21 about System Memory (PDF file in different language): http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/GRYPHON_Z87/HelpDesk_Manual/

As far as I can see there is no suggestion of running in single channel except for when you are running only a single DIMM. I would therefore replace your memory with a dual channel kit of low profile like the Crucial Tactical kit which is possible to find in different bandwidth.

[Even of somebody else might have made it work on their main board, it is does not necessary mean that your combination would be identical with that persons hardware as there could be different memory chips even from the same brand and model of DIMM and integrated memory controller on CPU might have been slightly changed during production line (revision). Main board could also play a part as they have different BIOS, there are also different revision etc, so to ask for somebody else that have the same system as you would be hard to confirm.]