i5 4690K Question

[bobo0246]

I recently got the i5 4690k and noticed on the box it says "Supports Two-Channel DDR3 Memory",

 

My question is, can it support 4 Dimms of Ram? (It may be a stupid question but it just confuses me)

[WinNut]

Yes.

[TheKDub]

Yes.

[Analog]

I recently got the i5 4690k and noticed on the box it says "Supports Two-Channel DDR3 Memory",

 

My question is, can it support 4 Dimms of Ram? (It may be a stupid question but it just confuses me)

 

Yes, it does support 4 dimms of RAM, the thing is that the RAM is running in dual-channel mode and not quad-channel like on X99. What that means is that teh sticks will work 2x2, unlike on a X99 board with 8 dim-slots where it is 4x4.

[bobo0246]

Yes, it does support 4 dimms of RAM, the thing is that the RAM is running in dual-channel mode and not quad-channel like on X99. 

So it will run slower than 4 Channel?

[dadasmithywinkle]

It can support 4 dimms, yes. Channels in memory allow sticks to work together to be faster. X79/X99 has a four-channel memory allowance but can handle 8 sticks of ram. 

 

With the 4690K, Each two sticks of ram will work together. That's why you have to put ram in certain spaces on the mobo if you're not going to fill it up.

[Analog]

So it will run slower than 4 Channel?

 

Theoretically yes, but you will need an X99 board with an LGA 2011v3 CPU to run quad-channel memory. Not to mention DDR4 RAM. In everyday use it doesn't really matter. 

[sweenytodd]

So it will run slower than 4 Channel?

 

In theory yes, but in real world scenarios like gaming, difference in performance in small or non-existent.

[dadasmithywinkle]

So it will run slower than 4 Channel?

 

Yes and no. It doesnt matter, though, as only X79/X99 support 4 channel.

[bobo0246]

Thank you!