First slot of second channel (B1) Second slot of first channel (A2) Second slot of second channel (B2) And so on. If you need to install multiply modules it is best to add them one by one. Installing memory is not hard, but my advice is to have motherboard manual open and ready. Those slots rarely come in any kind of sane order. Jan 21, 2017 Originally posted by MSI H170A - PDF Manual (English): Always insert memory modules in the DIMM2 slot first. Due to chipset resource usage, the available capacity of memory will be a little less. Than the amount of installed. Based on Intel CPU specification, the Memory DIMM voltage below 1.35V is.
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I have been asked many times by my blog readers that whether they should use a single large stick of RAM or multiple RAM sticks (mostly two) to run in dual channel mode. So I have decided to write a post on this issue and clear the doubts of my blog readers on which RAM configuration they should choose and which one is best for them.
Contents
- 1 What is Dual Channel Memory Mode?
What is Dual Channel Memory Mode?
In dual channel memory mode the bandwidth between the RAM and Memory controller is doubled. In dual channel mode the memory controller on the motherboard utilizes two different 64-bit channels for communication with RAM. This leads to total bandwidth of 128 bits to move data from RAM to the CPU. This eliminates the problem of bottleneck where a higher FSB (Front Side Bus) CPU is left with nothing to do so as the single channel memory is busy with reading or writing the data.
So when the memory is operating in dual channel model then one channel is used to handle the reading and writing of data and other channel is used for loading, refreshing, and housekeeping functions. Here we can say that there is a simultaneous two way parallel communication between the memory controller and RAM. This leads to increase in overall performance of the system.
It must be noted that dual channel architecture is a motherboard feature or technology and is independent of RAM types. You can run any two identical types of RAM in dual channel mode. All Memory types i.e. DDR, DDR2, DDR3 RAM supports dual channel memory mode.
To run memory in dual channel mode the two RAM should of same capacity, make and speed (not necessary but preferred to avoid issues). Dual Channel works in pairs i.e. 2, 4, 6 etc.
A motherboard supporting dual channel memory configuration has its memory slots color coded to indicate that you should put memory of same type in the slots with same color to run or use them in dual channel mode.
Color Coded Memory Slots indicating Channels
Some modern day Processors like i7 can support triple channel and quad channel memory configuration. Also Modern CPUs like Intel i3, i5 & i7 has memory controller integrated in them which leads to faster access of data and it also helps in reducing memory latency.
Requirements for Dual Channel Memory Mode Configuration
- Dual Channel enabled Motherboard
- Two Identical RAM Sticks of same size
Performance Gain by using Dual Channel Memory Mode
Theoretically dual channel architecture doubles the throughput and bandwidth, but in real world the performance gain is not too much. The amount of performance gain when using dual channel memory mode is around 10% – 15% only (also depends on various factors, PC & Memory specs).
Which Channel Configuration to go for?
Here I tell you which memory configuration is best for you, whether it is single channel or dual channel?
For Normal Work – If you are building a PC for normal day to day office work, watching movies, casual gaming, internet surfing & browsing then you should go for single channel memory configuration only.
For Gaming & Performance PCs – For Gaming and high end PCs I would suggest you to go for Dual channel or Quad channel memory configuration to get maximum performance.
For Future RAM Upgrade – If your motherboard has got only two RAM slots then I would advise you to get a single large stick of RAM in single channel configuration only. This is because it will be easier and cost effective for you to upgrade RAM in near future.
If you have any doubts on dual channel mode then you can ask me by leaving a comment below.
Read more on RAM:
Adding additional RAM memory to computer had been always one of the easiest and efficient upgrades. Over years with baggage of hardware generations and new technologies it can get tricky.
When installing memory it’s not important what to do, but more important to do it right
Choose memory
There are two main factors in memory: type and speed.
By type most of it is one of DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 (unless you are looking at really old computer). Memory of different types is not compatible mechanically or electronically. Motherboards usually have slots for one specific kind of memory, some rare models can support memory of two types (but not at the same time).
Speed of memory is faster for newer types, but also differs in margins of every type. Motherboards might only support slower speed than memory can come with. Memory of different speeds will in general work with any motherboard of required type. Slow memory will work at its speed even if motherboard can go faster. Fast memory will slow down to match motherboard if needed.
So you need memory that matches motherboard in type and (best case) speed. If adding memory it is also good idea that new modules match old ones in parameters and brand.
Manufacturers always provide (in manual and online) information on what memory motherboard supports and larger brands even offer lists of practically tested modules for each motherboard.
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Choose slots
I remember times when you just had to stick modules in, but those are gone.
Currently most of motherboards/processor combos support at least two memory channels. I think there are already rare (for now) configurations with three channels.
Different channels correspond to different physical slots on board. The idea is that memory must be balanced between channels and that requires them to be filled in specific order.
Motherboard manual has diagram of slot channels and numbers. For example like this one:
Letter commonly refer to channel, numbers commonly refer to order inside channel. In usual case (when manual doesn’t have other explicit instructions) slots must be filled in following order:
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![Ram Ram](/uploads/1/3/8/9/138993707/606565617.jpeg)
- First slot of first channel (A1 in example)
- First slot of second channel (B1)
- Second slot of first channel (A2)
- Second slot of second channel (B2)
- And so on.
If you need to install multiply modules it is best to add them one by one.
Overall
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Installing memory is not hard, but my advice is to have motherboard manual open and ready. Those slots rarely come in any kind of sane order. I had recently upgraded computer for a friend and it took me five attempts to get kit of 3x2GB memory modules working correctly.