How do you change from Single to Dual Channel RAM?

[DrThots]

It says from hwinfo64 that I am on a single channel. I have 2x 8gb and I am using a I5 6600K on a Z170A PC MATE MSI Motherboard. How do you change it to dual channel

 

EDIT- I just checked on HWINFO and it says http://prntscr.com/jm3t4y  BUT when Im on task manager http://prntscr.com/jm3tfr

Edited May 24, 2018 by DrThots

[Dedayog]

Did you put the RAM in the correct slots?  Usually, they're every other.  Like A / B / A / B.  Put 1 stick in each A, for dual channel, for example.  Motherboards will usually automatically take care of the rest.

[DrThots]

1 minute ago, jstudrawa said:

Did you put the RAM in the correct slots?  Usually, they're every other.  Like A / B / A / B.  Put 1 stick in each A, for dual channel, for example.  Motherboards will usually automatically take care of the rest.

I just updated my post. Please read it and look at the pictures

[Princess Luna]

If your focus is gaming single vs dual channel makes no difference therefore you really don't have to mind it.

[DrThots]

2 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

If your focus is gaming single vs dual channel makes no difference therefore you really don't have to mind it.

People have tested it and dual gives more fps

[Dedayog]

Single or dual channel don't show you if you're RAM is in the system, it's how it's accessed.  Task Manager sees all 16GB just like HWinfo does.  Task Manager doesn't show you if it's single or dual tho.

 

What slots are the memory modules in on your motherboard?

[DrThots]

1 minute ago, jstudrawa said:

Single or dual channel don't show you if you're RAM is in the system, it's how it's accessed.  Task Manager sees all 16GB just like HWinfo does.  Task Manager doesn't show you if it's single or dual tho.

 

What slots are the memory modules in on your motherboard?

Idk... Is there a way to see it in bios? I don't mind going there to check if its dual or single

[GilmourD]

4 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

If your focus is gaming single vs dual channel makes no difference therefore you really don't have to mind it.

Yeah, not feeling this suggestion... Besides, it's not like he has to pay for dual channel. He already has two sticks in his box. He just needs to move one of them to the right slot.

[Princess Luna]

4 minutes ago, DrThots said:

People have tested it and dual gives more fps

Wrong... unless you're specifically using an Intel iGPU or AMD APU, is that your case?

[GilmourD]

1 minute ago, DrThots said:

Idk... Is there a way to see it in bios? I don't mind going there to check if its dual or single

CPU-Z will tell you what's in which slot in the SPD tab.

 

https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

[Tabs]

Just now, DrThots said:

Idk... Is there a way to see it in bios? I don't mind going there to check if its dual or single

Easiest way would be to use cpu-z. It will show you which module is in each individual slot. For dual channel mode to work, the slots need to be in the same channel, which means slots 1 and 3, or slots 2 and 4. If your memory is installed in slots 1 and 2 or 3 and 4, then it means you'd need to move one of the modules to enable dual channel operation.

 

 

[GrockleTD]

does it matter if it is in 2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3?

[Princess Luna]

3 minutes ago, GilmourD said:

.

Oh yes don't get me wrong I actually thought he was having one of those more common issues where heavy pressure caused by the cooler on the CPU may harm the IMC to the point only one channel functions, this happens more often than one may believe.

 

For a general usage PC and gaming the extra channel isn't meaningful and it won't really benefit him in any way... if he wanted any real performance gain from the memory he'd not be using 2133mhz value select to begin with hehe

[Princess Luna]

Just now, Grockle88 said:

does it matter if it is in 2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3?

No it doesn't but old sayin' that the closest to the CPU the better :3

[GilmourD]

1 minute ago, Princess Cadence said:

Wrong... unless you're specifically using an Intel iGPU or AMD APU, is that your case?

 

It depends on the game and its use of memory bandwidth, but... DAMN, it's 2018. Who doesn't have dual channel memory these days?

 

 

 

 

[GrockleTD]

1 hour ago, Princess Cadence said:

No it doesn't but old sayin' that the closest to the CPU the better :3

thought so

[GilmourD]

2 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

Oh yes don't get me wrong I actually thought he was having one of those more common issues where heavy pressure caused by the cooler on the CPU may harm the IMC to the point only one channel functions, this happens more often than one may believe.

 

For a general usage PC and gaming the extra channel isn't meaningful and it won't really benefit him in any way... if he wanted any real performance gain from the memory he'd not be using 2133mhz value select to begin with hehe

I'm gonna go out on a limb, but my 30 years of experience says higher bandwidth trumps raw clockspeed when clockspeeds aren't far apart.

[GilmourD]

2 minutes ago, Grockle88 said:

thought so

On a well-designed board the difference is negligible. Certainly a tiny fraction of the difference between single and dual channel. Now, if it's a garbage board and the traces are all over the place, who knows if the physically closer slots are even electrically closer.

[Tabs]

Just now, Grockle88 said:

does it matter if it is in 2 and 4 instead of 1 and 3?

It can, you may want to check your motherboard manual. Some boards won't boot with only two modules if they are in the wrong channel in a dual channel setup. Your motherboard manual (available here) says you should use slots 2 and 4.

[GrockleTD]

1 hour ago, Tabs said:

It can, you may want to check your motherboard manual. Some boards won't boot with only two modules if they are in the wrong channel in a dual channel setup. Your motherboard manual (available here) says you should use slots 2 and 4.

i think you confused me with the OP

[Princess Luna]

3 minutes ago, GilmourD said:

30 years of experience

I love how in "30 years of experience" all you manage to bring to prove a point is a short video of questionable reputation, sorry I don't take people like you seriously, be free to advise as you seem proper but I would appreciate you'd refrain from quoting me.

[Tabs]

Just now, Grockle88 said:

i think you confused me with the OP

Yep. But as a general rule, it's always best to check the motherboard manual anyway. In the case of the board the OP is using, it's suggested by the manufacturer to use slots 2 and 4, which is somewhat opposing the other advice given here so far. Still worth the correction.

 

If in doubt, read the manual.

[GrockleTD]

1 hour ago, Tabs said:

Yep. But as a general rule, it's always best to check the motherboard manual anyway. In the case of the board the OP is using, it's suggested by the manufacturer to use slots 2 and 4, which is somewhat opposing the other advice given here so far. Still worth the correction.

 

If in doubt, read the manual.

uh... mine is an OEM pc that i wasn't even the original owner of.... so what manual

[Dedayog]

3 minutes ago, Grockle88 said:

uh... mine is an OEM pc that i wasn't even the original owner of.... so what manual

Google the name or spec if possible. I have an Optiplex 3020 at work, no documentation in my desk but...

 

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/optiplex-3020-desktop/manuals

 

DrThots... did you figure out your memory config?

[Spudbilly]

This thread could easily have looked like this.

 

1. Check motherboard manual online or physical copy if owned for proper installation of dimms in whatever slot config. 

 

2. If that dont work...blah blah blah.

 

3. Why must these forums turn into this...

 

Am i off base.