Extra RAM on a dual channel motherboard

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senthurpandian

senthurpandian

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Why do we have 4 slots on a dual channel motherboard? Will 2x dual channel ram pair work fine?

I mean 2x 2x4gb of the same make/brand?



I have a dual channel motherboard "ASRock H97M Pro4" with a dual channel ram "G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 1600" (2x4gb)

 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... You could also put in 2x 2x1gb and 2x 2x8gb... And it works... I feel you are mis-interpreting the word DUAL in this situation... As " Only Two".

For "Dual-channel" mode, you only need to install memory in pairs. All four memory sticks do not need to be the same, just the pairs need to be the same and installed in their proper memory slots.

http://www.pctechguide.com/computer-memory/dual-channel-ddr-memory
 
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durgesh86

durgesh86

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Motherboards now a days support total RAM of upto 32 GB or 64 GB (Average home use).
The "Dual Channel" is basically the architecture of the RAM and not the number of RAM modules to be used.
When you have 4 slots it means you can put 1 RAM module in each slot even of different capacities. They only have to be DD3.( for DDR 3 slots ofcourse)

So, Basically Yes you can use your RAM slots with the RAMs you mentioned.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... if you are Buying new ram and want 100% compatability for your $$ spent... then all things should be the same, And he is giving you the best "SAFE" answer to your questions.
But I have experienced using different size and brand "pairs" with success. Also MB manuals/PDF's show how to use different size pairs together, in "Dual Channel" mode... But you will not always have 100% success due to the different "brand" memory chips and their speed/timings.
 
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senthurpandian

senthurpandian

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Thanks for all your replies...

and what would happen if I make this configuration:

Total of 3 rams:
2x4gb dual channel ram - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 1600
1x4gb G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 1866

on a motherboard that supports max 1600 (ASRock H97M Pro4)
and the motherboard is a dual channel board
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... There is no such thing as "Dual channel" ram.... this is a memory controller mode.
You would be running ram in "Single channel" mode with 3 sticks... So set your BIO's for Single channel Memory operation and "Save and Exit" ***Some BIO's will not have this option***
It is a hit and miss stiuation... Just simply plug them in and try it out... sometimes you have play with BIO's memory settings to get them to be happy together...
You will not break anything... You will just not Boot if your Memory configuation or settings are wrong.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... Yes I would try them... 12 gb is better than 8 gb for Sure!!!
You will not break anything... You will just not Boot or BSOD will happen if your Memory configuation or settings are wrong.

It's not complicated... if you have spare RAM laying around like us Builders do too experiment with, We just plug them in and give them a try... and tweek the BIO's memory settings to get them to work.
Your memory controller will try to Boot/Read them all at 1600/1333 or the lowest setting of the sticks for the best results.

But if you want to buy and want 100% "Dual channel" compatability then buy matching pairs.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... Like I said before... plug them in and try them... I can not give you 100% results in this situation... But I have experienced success in this situation with memory settings tweeks... "Dual channel" mode has proved to be an added performance boost in speed... But 12gb ram vs 8gb ram has also proved a performance boost in Windows... every situation can be different, and depends on the programs you use on your PC.

You need to be kind of a MAD scientist in this situation and learn too experiment, and then being able to "measure" the results in both situations... "Single channel" vs "Dual channel" OR "12gb vs 8gb" for your PC/Windows program performance.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... 1) The SSD will give you faster Pagefile.sys performance over a Platter Harddrive... In 8gb "Dual channel" operation.
2) The SSD will give you faster Pagefile.sys performance over a Platter Harddrive... In 12gb "Single channel" operation.
3) 16gb ram in "Dual channel" mode, and shut off the Pagefile.sys in Windows... thus pure RAM speed for Temp Storage.

These are your choices... either can work faster than what you have now... But 8gb "Dual channel" and 12gb "Single channel" will work differently in other situations.

SSD prices continue to fall as DDR3 is still lingering... Thus a larger SSD can be had later in time.
 
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senthurpandian

senthurpandian

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I have installed the following setup and it works just fine for the past 1 month.

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB DDR3 1800
-- Total 12GB

Motherboard: ASRock H97M Pro4 - set at 1600


Thanks for all your inputs.
 
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