I7 2600K and triple channel ram

[IainCheesecake]

Sandy bridge doesn't seem to support triple channel ram, but by having it does it decrease or limit performance? I've gone for 3 x 2gb sticks, would having 2 x 4gb sticks be much better?

 

[Noworldorder]

Sandy bridge doesn't seem to support triple channel ram, but by having it does it decrease or limit performance? I've gone for 3 x 2gb sticks, would having 2 x 4gb sticks be much better?

2 x 4Gb is the way to go.

 

[geekapproved]

If you use 3 sticks, you'll lose performance. You can only use pairs.

You answered your own question when you said SB doesn't support triple channel ram. If it doesn't support it, how is it going to be better??

 

[IainCheesecake]

I know it wouldn't be better than dual channel, it was more a question of would I lose performance over having 4 or 8gb

 

[Noworldorder]

I know it wouldn't be better than dual channel, it was more a question of would I lose performance over having 4 or 8gb

It isn't the quantity of GBs in your case, it's having additional sticks.
Your board's memory controller will work better with 2 sticks than with 4.

 

[RetiredChief]

There is very little diff between 2 x 2 and 3 x 2 in terms of performance. In this case its daul channel 4 gigs vs 3 gigs in single channel. Iin all the tests, very little diff. So the option of 2 x 4, Improvement both in quanity (8 gigs vs 6 gigs, and with 2 x 4 daul channel is the BEST option. It also allows going to 16 gigs Should you EVER find the need.

Diff between using 2 sticks vs 3 sticks - Not that big of a diff, Read:
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/Feature/167875,triple-channel-memory-kits-vs-dual-channel-on-p55-platform.aspx/4

 

[IainCheesecake]

So having 4gb dual channel would work better than 6 gb single then? Obviously 8gb is the best option but just out of curiosity what would you go for out of the 4gb dual or 6gb triple?

 

[RetiredChief]

For 2 x 2 (4 gigs) vs 3 x 2 (6 gigs), I'd go with the 6 gigs. As the Link shows there is VERY LITTLE performance difference between these two options
BUT
the best option is 2 x 4 gigs for a total of 8 gigs and staying daul channel.

 

[Device Unknown]

There is very little diff between 2 x 2 and 3 x 2 in terms of performance. In this case its daul channel 4 gigs vs 3 gigs in single channel. For got which one one, but in all the test it was very limited. So the option of 2 x 4, Improvement both in quanity (8 gigs vs 6 gigs, and with 2 x 4 daul channel is the BEST option. It also allows allows fowing to 16 gigs Should you EVER find the need.

Diff between using 2 sticks vs 3 sticks - Not that bigg of a diff, Read:
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/Feature/167875,triple-channel-memory-kits-vs-dual-channel-on-p55-platform.aspx/4

damn Chief, hitting the bottle already? lol

 

[RetiredChief]

^ Yea someone switched the koolaid and Scotch, or was it blackberry Brandy.
Need an intelligent Keyboard with an AI built in.

 

[geekapproved]

So having 4gb dual channel would work better than 6 gb single then? Obviously 8gb is the best option but just out of curiosity what would you go for out of the 4gb dual or 6gb triple?

4GB of dual channel memory.

 

[IainCheesecake]

Spent more money, and ordered 8gb dual channel

 

[geekapproved]

OK solved!