Dual Channel 2Gb Vs 3Gb Non Dual channel

[stenno]

- ASUS P5E3 Deluxe
- INTEL Core 2 Duo 3.16GHz E8500 [ LGA775 - 6MB - 45nm - 1333MHz]
- 2x DDR3 2GB [2x1GB] DDR1333 (PC3-10666) - CORSAIR DHX [TWIN3X2048-1333C9DHX]
- ASUS Extreme N8800GTS/HTDP ( GeForce 8800GTS 512MB 2xDVI HDTV HDCP )
- SATA150 74GB - 10000 WESTERN DIGITAL RAPTOR (16MB) [WD740ADFD]
- English Windows XP PRO SP2b OEM

Hey there,

this is a quickie (i hope)... title says it all really. For various reasons I can not use all my RAM sticks (4x 1Gb in matched pairs). What is more effective; Using two sticks thus having 2Gb using dual channel, or 3Gb but filling 3 of the 4 RAM slots and not using dual channel?

As an afterthought.... will the latter option cause any H/W damage?

 

[bpogdowz]

3GB is more beneficial running single channel than 2GB in dual channel I believe and no it's safe.

quote from wiki: "Tom's Hardware found no significant difference between single-channel and dual-channel configurations in synthetic and game benchmarks (using a "modern" system setup).

source: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/PARALLEL-PROCESSING,1705-11.html

 

[shadowthor]

3gb can run in dual channel as well. 1x2Gb and 1x1gb.

 

[Nik_I]

3gb can run in dual channel as well. 1x2Gb and 1x1gb.

don't the modules have to be the same size for dual channel to work?

 

[stenno]

i thought they did have to be the same...???

but i already have 4x1Gb sticks... the only other thing i'd get is vista 64 bit to actually use all my RAM...

 

[titaniumcloud]

I had problems using 4 sticks in my mobo as well, I could post with 3 but not the 4th. I was wondering the same thing as you about dual-channel and single, but didn't run any benchmarks to actually find out.

Now, if you have Vista, I'd say the more RAM, the better, but since you're on XP, I guess it depends on what applications you're using.

I finally got my 4 sticks to work by raising the voltage a bit on the RAM and also the northbridge chip. Works great now.

 

[blckvec]

Wouldn't 2x512mb and 2x1gb pairs run in dual channel ?