Dual channel memory - does it matter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter swingman
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swingman

I was looking at a computer with gig of ram and noticed that there were two
512meg modules. I asked if it could be configured with a single 1 gig
module (to free up a slot) and was told "yes, but you would lose the dual
channel setup". Does a dual channel ram configuration provide better
performance?
 
"swingman" said:
I was looking at a computer with gig of ram and noticed that there were two
512meg modules. I asked if it could be configured with a single 1 gig
module (to free up a slot) and was told "yes, but you would lose the dual
channel setup". Does a dual channel ram configuration provide better
performance?
Click to expand...

It can give extra bandwidth, so yes it does help.

When I bought a computer for a relative, and it came from
the shop with a non-dual channel config, that is the reason
I had to take it back to the shop, to get it put right.
You have to be careful with some computer shops, because
some of the staff don't even know what dual channel is,
or how close the match between DIMMs has to be. I
got one stick of RAM with four chips per side of the
DIMM, and a second stick of RAM with eight chips per side
of the DIMM, and that is not a match. So even if you get
two sticks of RAM, they still need to have the same
number of chips (Nforce2 chipset would be the exception).

To take the guess work out of matching, it is much easier
to just insist that the two DIMMs be visually identical.

The biggest visible difference in performance, can be with
motherboards that have integrated (chipset) video. You will
notice an extra "snap" to the desktop, when dual channel
is running. If you have enough slots in the motherboard,
you can experiment with moving the DIMMs around, and see
what differences occur. On the one hand, maybe if you
were surfing or emailing, you might not notice anything,
but in the case of the integrated chipset video, the effect
is enough that I can tell the difference between single and
dual channel, without having to take the side cover off
the computer. If you are using a separate AGP or PCI Express
video card, that difference might very well be invisible
again - integrated video uses system memory for its
operation, while a separate video card is more autonomous
and self-supporting.

Paul
 
swingman said:
I was looking at a computer with gig of ram and noticed that there were two
512meg modules. I asked if it could be configured with a single 1 gig
module (to free up a slot) and was told "yes, but you would lose the dual
channel setup". Does a dual channel ram configuration provide better
performance?
Click to expand...

If you have a choice get dual channel.

Michael
 
I went dual channel, got same exact numbers for bandwidth in "memtest86" for
dos and am disappointed. The numbers check out ok, but i was doing that with
one stick as well as two for dual channel. The only optimistic benefit i can
think of, is that ram is going to stay cooler with two chips, and once and
awhile, programs may specifically know what to do with two sticks. I dont
know if i have motherboard error, very well could.Although Energy is saved
with one chip, two sticks have been the same thing for me since my first old
pc , a 233mhz. The memory lasted longer. I'd go dual, even if the increased
bandwidth is a hoax.
 
I went dual channel, got same exact numbers for bandwidth in "memtest86" for
dos and am disappointed. The numbers check out ok, but i was doing that with
one stick as well as two for dual channel. The only optimistic benefit i can
think of, is that ram is going to stay cooler with two chips, and once and
awhile, programs may specifically know what to do with two sticks. I dont
know if i have motherboard error, very well could.Although Energy is saved
with one chip, two sticks have been the same thing for me since my first old
pc , a 233mhz. The memory lasted longer. I'd go dual, even if the increased
bandwidth is a hoax.
Click to expand...

No, no, and no.

Memory does not "last longer", it doesn't wear out at all
and given same amt., it's same in that regard too.

If your system is set up properly memtest should show the
increased throughput. Perhaps you had it in the wrong
slots, mismatched memory or the feature is disabled in your
bios.

That doesn't necessarily mean dual channel is always of
significant benefit, generally only a very few % unless the
system uses integrated video.
 
kony said:
No, no, and no.

Memory does not "last longer", it doesn't wear out at all
and given same amt., it's same in that regard too.

If your system is set up properly memtest should show the
increased throughput. Perhaps you had it in the wrong
slots, mismatched memory or the feature is disabled in your
bios.

That doesn't necessarily mean dual channel is always of
significant benefit, generally only a very few % unless the
system uses integrated video.
Click to expand...

Thanks to everyone who responded. The system I'm planning to buy does have
integrated video so it sounds like the dual channel ram configuration is a
good thing.
 
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