More ram (gb) dual channel or less ram (gb) triple channel?

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therick04pp

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Need some input. I have been reading for days and still have not got it down.

My mobo supports triple channel ram (4gb x2 slots per channel=8gb per) DDR3. Mobo also says 1066mhz. So I have some question..

Is more GB on dual channel better than less GB on triple channel? I ask because there are no triple kits for 1066mhz. Can I run dual channel at 16gb (4gb stick per slot for dual channel) and leave the last channel empty?

Would I notice a difference and would it be noticeable? I was thinking of running the dual channel Ripjaw kit (4gb x 4, 1066mhz) and then purchasing the 8 gb kit (4gb x2, 1066mhz) but that seems like overkill and im not sure i need that much or if they will even work as the rep said, even if they all match, they cant guarantee that they will work because they are not all from the same kit.

Can I run 1333 or 1600 mhz, in place of the 1066?

Note, I am currently running 9gb total (1x1gb+1x2gb, per channel)

Any and all help is greatly appreciated..

 
Solution
Darkbreeze
Yes, more RAM in dual channel offers better overall performance, to a point, than less memory in triple channel.

Obviously though, the SAME amount of memory in triple channel offers a small advantage over dual channel, but you probably would never notice it except in synthetic benchmarks. The performance advantage between dual channel is fairly significant over single channel, but between dual and even quad channel, there is not as much to be gained. At some point the bandwidth advantage just doesn't really show up.

Having more memory in total won't give you much, if anything, either, unless you are actually in NEED of the additional memory. If you have 16GB but your system and applications never use more than 12GB, then adding...
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Yes, more RAM in dual channel offers better overall performance, to a point, than less memory in triple channel.

Obviously though, the SAME amount of memory in triple channel offers a small advantage over dual channel, but you probably would never notice it except in synthetic benchmarks. The performance advantage between dual channel is fairly significant over single channel, but between dual and even quad channel, there is not as much to be gained. At some point the bandwidth advantage just doesn't really show up.

Having more memory in total won't give you much, if anything, either, unless you are actually in NEED of the additional memory. If you have 16GB but your system and applications never use more than 12GB, then adding another 16GB is probably not going to show up as a performance increase at all.

In EVERY case, you want to buy (Optimally) all the memory you ever plan to need in only two modules, or three for triple, four for quad, from the start, in a matched set. Adding modules later is always a crapshoot even if you use the exact same part number.


This is why.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3610013/amd-ram-compatibility.html#20562100


If you run different speeds, and they actually all work together, they will ALL downclock to match the lowest speed module that is installed. You would be much better off installing the fastest speed memory that will run in your system, and purchase the fewest number of modules necessary to get the full capacity you wish to run. So, 2 x8GB for 16GB, gives you at least dual channel. Then, if you want to add additional modules later, provided you can get them to "play nice" together, you still have room to add capacity later.

With a system as old as yours, running older DDR3 modules, I'd say get two or three 1600mhz modules and call it a day.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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What is the make/model of your motherboard?
Just because you have 4 slots does not make you triple channel capable.
Triple channel motherboards will usually have some multiple of 3 ram slots.

Regardless, more ram will likely be the winner in performance.
 
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therick04pp

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I have 6 slots on my mobo. Pegatron 2A86 capable of 24gb total, 4gb per slot, max.

Link to mobo specs:
http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/pegatron-corporation-2a86-mainboard-1-04-specs/

 
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therick04pp

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Thank you for that. I can handle 4gb per slot (with two slots per channel of course). So I should only add 1, 4gb stick per channel or use 4gb for each slot for only the first two channels and leave the third channel empty unless I feel the need to try* and add the same sticks to the third in the future?

Mobo is capable of 24gb total, 4gb per slot (x6 slots, 2 per channel), max. My goal is 16gb. I have 9 now and have had almost no issues. My system is old(er) but she is fast, doesnt lag and runs like a top. Just now after this most recent windows update, I am using more ram and can use 7gb consistently, so I would like to add more.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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I think so. Two sticks in whichever two slots are designated for dual channel two stick operation, in a quantity of 4GB each, would be a good starting place, unless you want to and can afford to simply do three sticks of 4GB each in the three slots designated for triple channel operation. That way, you can later see about adding an additional DIMM and moving to a four stick dual channel configuration or three additional sticks for six DIMM triple channel, assuming of course that this board doesn't support quad channel operation, which might entirely change the methodology to some degree. Or it might not.

In any case, I don't think I'd want to actually BUY anything slower than 1600mhz memory for that configuration unless of course that board only supports older low density memory in which case you may end up having trouble actually finding memory that will run on that board. I don't think anybody is still manufacturing low density memory anymore, which means if that's the case you'll have a fun time FINDING it at all, much less in 1600mhz speeds, although there IS some out there somewhere.

There seems to be very little info available on that board, which isn't surprising being a Pegatron board, and what there IS only indicates support for 1066mhz memory but that spec listing might predate the release of faster memory. You'll probably have to determine for yourself what will actually run in there and what won't.
 
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therick04pp

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Thank you for all the help, I appreciate it. My memory specs read: "6 * 240-pin DDR3 DIMM slots Supports Triple Channel DDR3 1066 MHz non-ECC, un-buffered memory (Max. 24GB)". Link to mobo: http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/pegatron-corporation-2a86-mainboard-1-04-specs/

I was thinking of doing this: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231309 , and leaving the third channel empty. And maybe* adding this: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308 , later, for triple channel..

What do you think? Im still not sure about 1066, 1333 and 1600. Which one is fastest/slowest? I want to do the kit and have the least amount of issues, that's the only reason I was asking about 1333 and 1600, they have the triple channel 24gb kits. The 1066, does not.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Well, the higher the number is, the faster the memory is, mostly. There are also other factors like latency, which you want to be as low as possible, typically on modules like those you are looking at latencies in the range of CAS 9, 8, 7, with lower being "quicker", that can affect speed too. A 1066mhz module with a CAS latency of 7 might actually be similar in speed to a 1366mhz module with a CAS 10 latency, just as an example.

I'm unable to tell you what speed/density you can actually run on that board, as I don't think I can recall having used that model before. You might have to look around for confirmation on what others have actually used successfully on that board.
 
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fry178

fry178

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the fact that you dont know what to use (DC or TC), means it doesnt matter ;-)

unless your en/decoding or lots of photo/video editing, you wont see any difference.

windows will eat as much ram as it can, so upgrading it, wont make a difference,
and use any ram not in use by the OS, for disk caching etc.
e.g. i had 8gb (2x4) and now 16gb (4x4gb) and windows didnt see any (real world) improvement.

see it as your fuel tank. unless going cross country all the time, you wont gain anything from having a 100 gal tank in your car (vs 15 or 20).

dual channel is about 5-10% "better" than single channel, triple wont see as much, so go with the larger/faster (1600) set.

i wouldn't re-use any existing ram, as even on intel its a little risky to mix&match "normal" sticks.
so if its some nice ram like corsair/kingston etc that was matched and tested together, sure add the same type again,
otherwise a new set makes more sense..
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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I was able to find the following regarding that board, and while I usually say run whatever you can get that works, including faster modules, it MIGHT be likely that this system will not run anything faster than 1066mhz modules unless you can somehow find a bios update version that offers support for it, which is improbable at this late date.

It's worth trying though, especially if you know somebody with 1600mhz sticks you can "try".

Triple channel memory architecture
Six 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
Supports PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066) DIMM types
Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered
Supports 4 GB DDR3 DIMMs
Supports up to 24 GB on 64-bit PCs
Supports up to 4 GB* on 32-bit PCs
Click to expand...
 
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