Windows 7: RAM... Two sticks, three sticks, dual channel, triple channels, huh?

I ordered some computer stuff at 4a.m. and I had a major brainfart when doing so.

I ordered some Crucial ram that came in 2GB sticks, Newegg.com sold is in doubles and triple packs, my thought was well, 6GB is better then 4GB when ordering but after doing so I thought, wait, don't you normally run ram in two's for dual channel?

So tomorrow I have 3, 2GB sticks showing up. Should I order a forth? I mean I KNOW I can run just 3 sticks but that puts is out of dual channel mode, correct? Does it REALLY matter when you get upto 6GB of ram? I mean computers are so quick now days, does it really actually matter?

I have this motherboard:

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard



I intend to install Windows 7 Ultimate x64 tomorrow on this new motherboard and a Dual-Core CPU.

Most MB's will let you run the 3 sticks in dual channel mode. One channel will have 4GB and one will have 2GB. Check you MB manual and it should show which slots to use.

Jim

Don't order a fourth stick, order a second triple pack. You'll have 12gb of ram running dual channel. You could order a 4th stick but you'd be running like Phone Man said.

Not on the AMD based motherboard he has. BTW there is no such thing as "triple channel ram", dual or triple channel is entirely down to whether the memory controller supports it, not what it says on the package the ram comes in.

I never said the ram had anything to do with dual or triple channel support. And, yes, the MOBO he posted in his link does support up to 16gb, in dual channel mode.

Umm the board only holds/supports 4 sticks so ordering another triple pack would be pointless.

16GB for this board would have to be 4x4GB.

Why not keep the ram and get a new mobo that can support 6 sticks,you all ready have the ram you know?

All right, I'm embarrassed! I thought the board had 6 slots. I didn't look closely enough. My apologies to stormy13.