Question about RAM channels

[JimmyP123]

Does the RAM kit itself determine the amount of channels being used, or does the motherboard? This Linus video says the motherboard determines the maximum amount of channels that can be used, but says that the amount of sticks that come in a kit determines how many channels are actually being used. On the other hand, sites such as Newegg and even the official Gskill website categorize some 4x RAM kits as dual channel.

I ask because I'm looking to get the ASRock X99 Extreme4, which supports quad channel memory. I was hoping to pair it with a kit of 4x8GB sticks at 3200Mhz, but I can't seem to find any good ones on Newegg that are listed as quad channel and don't break the bank.

Thanks

 

[Tradesman1]

4x8GB is fine. DRAM itself, if you will, doesn't care - there are no such thing as dual channel, quad channel or tri channel DRAM. Each stick of DRAM is an individual 64bit device and when paired up with other sticks, any can run as single, dual, tri or quad. The Chipset of the mobo determines what CAN be runand the MC (memory controller) is also involved. ON X99 you can run DRAM in single, dual, tri or quad, dep[ends on the number of sticks and proper placement in the slots. If linus said that (the - "says that the amount of sticks that come in a kit determines how many channels are actually being used" he's once again wrong as (afgain if they'll play you could buy two packages of 2 sticks and run the 4 total sticks in quad channel) (again, that's if they will play or if you can adjust timings voltages to get them to play.

 

[JimmyP123]

Why would Gskill classify their 4x8 and 4x16 kits as dual channel then?

 

[Tradesman1]

That's maoire a marketing thing, they do have sets and model lines that were designed specifically for a given platform, I.e. The DDR3 Ripjaws Z were designed and aimed at the quad channel 2011 platform but operate perfectly fine in dual channel rigs like 1155, 1150. Oppisite is true also the 4x sets of Ripjaws X, Sniper, Ares, et all were aimed at dual channel platforms but work perfectly fine in 2011 (quad channel). When you get into DDR4 the Ripjaws 4 are aimed at 2011 v3 quad mobos, and the RJ V and TiZ are designed towards the 1151 dual channel mobos