Triple channel ddr4

[laugerasmussen]

Hi I'm thinking about giving my pc a ram upgrade and was just wondering if I could buy a dual channel kit and use my old single channel ram stick along with the new ram so it would run in triple channel ddr4 configuration.

[thelordofwarr]

I don't think there's triple channel ram, also what CPU are you using? Tbh I don't think that it works, the two will probably function in dual channel with the third one sitting around(still funktional maybe, tbh I didn't test sth like this on my own)

[stealth80]

you will get extra capacity at half the bandwidth

[DildorTheDecent]

Just now, laugerasmussen said:

Hi I'm thinking about giving my pc a ram upgrade and was just wondering if I could buy a dual channel kit and use my old single channel ram stick along with the new ram so it would run in triple channel ddr4 configuration.

That's only if you're memory controller allows for triple channel operation.

 

Channel is always down to memory controller (I think, pls help). There might be dual or quad channel optimized kits, but that's probably just closely matched pairs of RAM.

 

If you're on a platform that supports dual channel, then that's the best you're allowed. If you're on a platform that allows for quad channel, then triple is possible.

[airdeano]

welcome to the Linus Tech Tips forums!

 

so far, no triple channel DDR4 exists. you'd over buy with a quad-channel and use only three of the four sticks.

the additional stick will only be worth half the speed in single channel mode.

 

[KarathKasun]

Modules do not mean channels.

 

Z170 and Z270 as well as B350 and X370 are dual channel platforms.  You would be putting two modules in one channel and a single module in the other.

 

This requires the memory having, at the least, very similar timings.  Exactly matching timings is even better.

[Crunchy Dragon]

10 minutes ago, thelordofwarr said:

I don't think there's triple channel ram, also what CPU are you using? Tbh I don't think that it works, the two will probably function in dual channel with the third one sitting around(still funktional maybe, tbh I didn't test sth like this on my own)

Triple channel exists, but hasn't been an actual thing since X79 IIRC.

[laugerasmussen]

1 hour ago, thelordofwarr said:

I don't think there's triple channel ram, also what CPU are you using? Tbh I don't think that it works, the two will probably function in dual channel with the third one sitting around(still funktional maybe, tbh I didn't test sth like this on my own)

A ryzen 3 1200 with b350m-a motherboard

[KarathKasun]

57 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Triple channel exists, but hasn't been an actual thing since X79 IIRC.

X58 and LGA 1366 was the only triple channel platform AFAIK.

[DildorTheDecent]

4 minutes ago, laugerasmussen said:

A ryzen 3 1200 with b350m-a motherboard

Only supports dual channel.

 

You can run three DIMMs though without "major" issues.

[-rascal-]

4 hours ago, laugerasmussen said:

A ryzen 3 1200 with b350m-a motherboard

 

4 hours ago, DildorTheDecent said:

Only supports dual channel.

 

You can run three DIMMs though without "major" issues.

 

You can run three DIMMs, but it won't be triple channel.

I don't recall how odd-numbered DIMM configurations work on Dual-Channel CPUs/motherboards these days...but you either end up with:

• Dual-Channel + Single-channel OR
• Single-channel with three (3) memory modules

Channeling is not determined by how many memory sticks you have, it plays a role, but how the CPU handles how the memory (e.g. the Integrated Memory Controller). 

[KarathKasun]

6 hours ago, -rascal- said:

 

 

You can run three DIMMs, but it won't be triple channel.

I don't recall how odd-numbered DIMM configurations work on Dual-Channel CPUs/motherboards these days...but you either end up with:

• Dual-Channel + Single-channel OR
• Single-channel with three (3) memory modules

Channeling is not determined by how many memory sticks you have, it plays a role, but how the CPU handles how the memory (e.g. the Integrated Memory Controller). 

"Single-channel with three (3) memory modules"

 

No, its two DIMMS per channel.  The only 3 DIMM per channel setups were single channel, which means more than 15 years ago.

[laugerasmussen]

13 hours ago, -rascal- said:

 

 

You can run three DIMMs, but it won't be triple channel.

I don't recall how odd-numbered DIMM configurations work on Dual-Channel CPUs/motherboards these days...but you either end up with:

• Dual-Channel + Single-channel OR
• Single-channel with three (3) memory modules

Channeling is not determined by how many memory sticks you have, it plays a role, but how the CPU handles how the memory (e.g. the Integrated Memory Controller). 

ok thank you!

[DildorTheDecent]

14 hours ago, -rascal- said:

 

 

You can run three DIMMs, but it won't be triple channel.

I don't recall how odd-numbered DIMM configurations work on Dual-Channel CPUs/motherboards these days...but you either end up with:

• Dual-Channel + Single-channel OR
• Single-channel with three (3) memory modules

Channeling is not determined by how many memory sticks you have, it plays a role, but how the CPU handles how the memory (e.g. the Integrated Memory Controller). 

right ok.

[-rascal-]

11 hours ago, KarathKasun said:

"Single-channel with three (3) memory modules"

 

No, its two DIMMS per channel.  The only 3 DIMM per channel setups were single channel, which means more than 15 years ago.

 

What I am trying to say is, I probably didn't word it properly...

 

If you have two (2) DIMMs already in dual-channel mode (e.g. in matching coloured DRAM slots), adding a third DIMM into a separate colour-coded DIMM will cause the IMC to run in single-channel for ALL three (3) DRAM sticks.

 

I should be able to just run CPU-Z and look this up...since my old FX-8350 system is running with three memory modules, on a dual-channel supporting CPU and motherboard....

[KarathKasun]

1 minute ago, -rascal- said:

 

What I am trying to say is, I probably didn't word it properly...

 

If you have two (2) DIMMs already in dual-channel mode (e.g. in matching coloured DRAM slots), adding a third DIMM will cause the IMC to run in single-channel for ALL three (3) DRAM sticks.

Ive not seen that since the P4 days honestly.  OG Phenom and above did interleaving to cover this scenario AFAIK.  Intels IMC's are much more recent (no IMC for a significant time after AMD had one) and have had this feature as well.