Clarification on dual channel memory

[FlipGor]

Need clarification from hardware experts here. Me and my friend was talking about the difference between single channel and dual channel ram ytd and there was one point which i need clarification on.

My friend was saying that to have dual channel mode, must use dual channel ram kit then can, putting 2x single ram sticks doesnt make it dual channel mode. However, from what i understand, i thought dual channel is a motherboard technology? Meaning that, either 2x single ram or dual kit rams can be executed in dual channel modes depending on the motherboard, no meh?

The only perks that dual kit ram brings is that it guarantees that the both ram are compatible with each other while if you buy 2x single ram, u have to ownself ensure that both sticks are similar models @ similar speeds and timings no?

eg. Assuming the motherboard can operate ram in dual channel mode

dual ram kits such as 2 x 8gb kingston hyperX = dual channel mode.

2x single ram such as 1x 8gb kingston hyperX 2400mhz + 1x 8gb kingston hyperX 2400mhz = can also dual channel mode

 

[singupingu]

The only perks that dual kit ram brings is that it guarantees that the both ram are compatible with each other while if you buy 2x single ram, u have to ownself ensure that both sticks are similar models @ similar speeds and timings no?

2x single ram such as 1x 8gb kingston hyperX 2400mhz + 1x 8gb kingston hyperX 2400mhz = can also dual channel mode


There.
You answered yourself

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[Rashkae]

When dual channel first came out, there were a lot of issues with mixing RAM, so memory makers came out with kits.

This is not really an issue anymore.

Your friend is a very literal thinker, but he's still wrong.

 

[Audiology93]

Need clarification from hardware experts here. Me and my friend was talking about the difference between single channel and dual channel ram ytd and there was one point which i need clarification on.

My friend was saying that to have dual channel mode, must use dual channel ram kit then can, putting 2x single ram sticks doesnt make it dual channel mode. However, from what i understand, i thought dual channel is a motherboard technology? Meaning that, either 2x single ram or dual kit rams can be executed in dual channel modes depending on the motherboard, no meh?

The only perks that dual kit ram brings is that it guarantees that the both ram are compatible with each other while if you buy 2x single ram, u have to ownself ensure that both sticks are similar models @ similar speeds and timings no?

eg. Assuming the motherboard can operate ram in dual channel mode

dual ram kits such as 2 x 8gb kingston hyperX = dual channel mode.

2x single ram such as 1x 8gb kingston hyperX 2400mhz + 1x 8gb kingston hyperX 2400mhz = can also dual channel mode

Yes. As long as 2 sticks with same capacity(to be safe), doesn't matter what brand or speed, should run in Dual Channel(but will be based on the slower one). But might be unlucky and have error so dual channel kit are identical ram that won't have issue with compatability.

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/902726-dual-channel-different-ram-size/

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[Koenig168]

A dual channel kit has two RAM that are similar and compatible.

If you mix two different RAM, they can also work in dual channel mode if compatible. The speed and timings of both RAM will be the slower of the two.

 

[FlipGor]

Thanks all for the fast response, coz my friend was like really cock sure that he was right and googling on the topic returned mixed results with some ppl thinking the same thing as me while others swear by dual channel ram.

Since dual channel memory also works with single sticks, budget builders building a ryzen system can actually save some money by buying 2x single stick of a similar model instead of buying the more expensive(usually) dual kit right?

 

[Rashkae]

Thanks all for the fast response, coz my friend was like really cock sure that he was right and googling on the topic returned mixed results with some ppl thinking the same thing as me while others swear by dual channel ram.

Since dual channel memory also works with single sticks, budget builders building a ryzen system can actually save some money by buying 2x single stick of a similar model instead of buying the more expensive(usually) dual kit right?

Yeah, but that assumes you find 2 similar sticks of RAM for cheaper than a pair.

Also, remember that Ryzen really loves faster RAM, so avoid 2133 mhz

 

[Audiology93]

Thanks all for the fast response, coz my friend was like really cock sure that he was right and googling on the topic returned mixed results with some ppl thinking the same thing as me while others swear by dual channel ram.

Since dual channel memory also works with single sticks, budget builders building a ryzen system can actually save some money by buying 2x single stick of a similar model instead of buying the more expensive(usually) dual kit right?

Yes can get 2x value ram if on a budget. But value ram usually naked so doesn't look nice.

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[Rashkae]

Yes can get 2x value ram if on a budget. But value ram usually naked so doesn't look nice.

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Avoid 2133 value RAM on Ryzen. You lose a good chunk of performance.

 

[FlipGor]

Yeah, but that assumes you find 2 similar sticks of RAM for cheaper than a pair.

Also, remember that Ryzen really loves faster RAM, so avoid 2133 mhz

Should be easy to find cheaper single stick rams, iirc simlim is selling single sticks 2400mhz ram at around $11X. Hence 2x 2400mhz single stick ram is only $22X while a 2400mhz dual kit can already hit $27X

 

[-Synchronicity-]

Problem is, most single stick rams are rated 2133/2400. They rarely go above that whereas faster speed kits are more readily available.

Frankly speaking this affects ryzen users more then Intel so yeah a +1 to Intel lol

 

[singupingu]

Problem is, most single stick rams are rated 2133/2400. They rarely go above that whereas faster speed kits are more readily available.

Frankly speaking this affects ryzen users more then Intel so yeah a +1 to Intel lol

2666 naked ram is available already hahaha

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[Koenig168]

Yeah, but that assumes you find 2 similar sticks of RAM for cheaper than a pair.

Also, remember that Ryzen really loves faster RAM, so avoid 2133 mhz

Intel also benefits from faster RAM, just not as much. I would think minimum speed nowadays should be 2666 MHz, whether for AMD or Intel.

It's just a tad more expensive than 2133 or 2400.

 

[watzup_ken]

2666 naked ram is available already hahaha

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This is true, but the timings on these rams are usually quite bad.

 

[Kiwi8]

Basically, it is not a must to use dual channel kit ram to run dual channel, but in most cases it does reduce potential problems with certain ram not compatible for dual channel.

 

[commach]

Thanks all for the fast response, coz my friend was like really cock sure that he was right and googling on the topic returned mixed results with some ppl thinking the same thing as me while others swear by dual channel ram.

Since dual channel memory also works with single sticks, budget builders building a ryzen system can actually save some money by buying 2x single stick of a similar model instead of buying the more expensive(usually) dual kit right?

There is an unexplained myth of Dual Channel ram configuration ever since the term Dual Channel appeared, to which I replied more than once in HWC.

Dual Channel ram configuration does not necessary restrict to exact ram capacity and number of ram module in most case as long as certain conditions met.

You can run Dual Channel with 3 stick of ram module and not restricted to 2 or 4 stick of ram module only.

Intel documentation clearly explain the requirement for Dual Channel configuration.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005657/boards-and-kits.html

What missing or detail left out in the article is the single stick of 4GB ram module. You need to use double sided ram module on the single 4GB ram module on 3 stick Dual Channel ram configuration, single sided 4GB ram won't work as Dual Channel.

I tested this concept during the DDR2 era, 1 stick of 2GB DDR2 double sided with 2 x 1GB ram module also double sided, the system boot up and BIOS report as Dual Channel Enabled.

 

[-Synchronicity-]

I thought all dimm now double sided? Damn long never see single sided rams liao...last saw it is like commach said, ddr2 era.

 

[FlipGor]

I thought all dimm now double sided? Damn long never see single sided rams liao...last saw it is like commach said, ddr2 era.

Still have, recently i was shopping for old DDR2 and DDR3 ram on taobao. Apparently, some sellers over there still sell single sided ram and you have to specify that you want dual sided ram. If not, they will just randomly issue