Quad Channel memory?

[markoskerass]

Hey,

I just wanted to ask if it is possible, I get 4 ram modules working perfectly fine on my computer. I am running an fx 6300 and a gigabyte 990xa but it only supports 2 channels. I just added 4 channels for testing (Using 12gb ram atm) with 2 x some kingston idk what 2gb ram modules and 2 x kingston hyperx 4gb. It is running perfectly fine, although cpuz says im running dual channel. Should I go for 4x4 or 2x8gb considering that my build only supports dual channel, yet it reads quad channel aswell?

 

[WereCat]

You can run 4 RAM sticks but not in quad channel. Only two times dual channel.

[Dimi3os]

The channels of your memory are what your CPU and motherboard support, X99 for example supports quad channel DDR4 (only), while your fx6300 and 990xa motherboard are build for dual channel memory. This said, you should put your 2GB sticks and 4GB sticks on the same channel. You'll have 2 dual channels on your board, consult your manual if you want to know what ram slot is in what channel. 

 

For example: A1-B1-A2-B2

This means that you should put your 4GB sticks in A1 and A2 and your 2GB sticks in B1 and B2. Your manual will probably tell you what's the best configuartion for 4 sticks of ram as well. 

[markoskerass]

I see. So 2 times dual channel or just dual channel for 16 gigs?

[Oshino Shinobu]

The board has two channels, but 4 slots. Between 4x4GB and 2x8GB, there will be no difference in performance. 

[Sakkura]

The memory controller in the CPU only has two channels, so you can't run quad channel no matter what you do. You can run with 4 sticks of memory, but that just means there are two sticks in each channel.

 

As for 4x4 vs 2x8 it doesn't really matter much. Though I do believe the AMD FX CPUs can handle higher memory clocks with 2 sticks than with 4.

[EmeraldKiwi]

The more modules, the more stress on the CPU. Try to get the highest capacity you can with as few modules as you can. For example, if you are going for 16GB, look for 2x8 packs. Not only does it reduce stress on the CPU, but it leaves more slots open if you ever want to add more ram in the future.

[NumLock21]

Your CPU only support up to dual channel ram and lower. The motherboard has 4 slots, when ram are installed into all 4 slots, the system will be running in 2 sets of dual channel. Suppose your board has 8 slots, it will still be in dual channel, but this time it will be 4 sets of dual channel. Only the X79 and X99 supports up to quad channel, but it will only run at quad channel if 4 stick of rams are installed. With other ram configurations it operates at different memory channels.

e.g 1 stick=single, 2 sticks= dual, 3 sticks =triple

For 16GB grab 2x8GB kit, that way, it puts less stress on memory controller. It's better this way when you want to OC.