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Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9751

Posted: 11:27pm 27 May 2018

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Hi folks.

If I have a system with one 8GB RAM stick, is there any benefit in going to dual-channel RAM? IE: 2x 4GB matched pair so I can run the memory in dual-channel mode.

At the moment, my machine has a single 8GB stick, in one slot. 8GB is the maximum supported system memory. The board does support 'Dual-channel memory architecture'. As I am thinking about doing a rebuild of this machine, I was thinking it might benefit the speed if I was to swap the single 8GB stick, for two 4GB sticks. I expect you end up with the same 8GB total, but that RAM access should be twice as fast(in theory), providing a useful boost to general performance.

Yes? No?

I've never really run anything in dual-channel memory mode before, so I am not sure if I am actually thinking correctly or not.

EDIT: I have done a little research on this, and as usual, theory and practice are two different things.

Quad-channel memory would seem to result in noticeable speed increases, but not dual-channel, based on that. I think I will just stick with a single 8GB stick. It's not worth the extra expense of a matched pair, if I don't stand to gain something significant from it.

Still interested in any other comments from members on this issue.Edited by Grogster 2018-05-29

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

BrianP
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Joined: 30/03/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 292

Posted: 12:01am 28 May 2018

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Hi Grogs

I've never noticed any worthwhile speed difference (make that ANY difference) from using single or dual channel RAM.
Of course as with anything - YMMV - it depends on what test you use & with what hardware. As far as the real world goes I really don't bother these days

B

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9751

Posted: 12:15am 28 May 2018

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Sounds good to me. Case closed.

Anyone else who wants to comment, feel free, but I expect that dual-channel is just not worth it on modern hardware. Might have been useful with older, slower hardware. A modern machine with quad-channel memory looks to be a different issue, but I am only concerned with dual-channel here.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

Phil23
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Joined: 27/03/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1667

Posted: 11:23pm 28 May 2018

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Grogster said Anyone else who wants to comment, feel free....

Only in as much as to mention how frustrated I've been in the past when deciding I'll just add some RAM to this older machine.....

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