Windows 7: triple channel ram with dual channel MB

I was looking at MB's and I looked at what kind of ram it takes it says it takes DDR3 with dual channel and i looked at some DDR3 triple channel will it still work?

Yes. I take it you mean triple channel memory kits. If so, you would use just 2 out of the 3 sticks. However, dual channel DDR3 kits are available.

Which motherboards were you looking at?

Welcome to Corsair :: Corsair DDR3 Memory Solutions

Kingston Technology Company - HyperX DDR3 -

http://www.crucial.com/store/listmodule/DDR3/list.html

Despite the marketing speak there really is no such thing as triple and dual channel ram. Dual or triple channel comes down to the memory controller, not what it says on the ram package. The only advantage to the kits is compatibility reasons, that and the kits are usually (but not always) cheaper than buying individual sticks. Here is an example, the triple channel kit,

Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory w/ Blue LEDs Model BL3KIT25664TB1337

and a single stick of the same ram,

Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory w/ Blue LEDs Model BL25664TB1337

and here is the same ram in a dual channel kit,

Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory w/ Blue LEDs Model BL2KIT25664TB1337

In your case if you were to get that kit as Dwarf said if you want dual channel operation you would have to only use two sticks, or the triple kit and a single to fill all 4 slots (assuming your motherboard has 4 slots). That or two of the dual kits.

The biggest misconception people seem to have is the belief that in order to get dual or triple channel mode, all the memory has to come from a single package, and that just isn't true. I think I'm going to strangle the next person who tries to sell me a "triple channel kit" using that myth... (well not really, but it has crossed my mind).

Whereas you are correct in saying that you don't necessarily need to use memory from the same package or even manufacturer, you will get better results if you do. Because of manufacturing tolerances, there will be slight differences in timing between modules. At the lower frequencies, this is insignificant, but as memory frequency rises any such differences become more significant. A kit is merely 2 or 3 modules that have been selected to work together at the designated frequency without these issues.

Thanks for all the responses so if im getting this right if i buy RAM 8gb DDR3 2 4gb sticks I can still use it in the motherboard if the motherboard is DDR3 1333 or if i buy any type of DDR3 1333 itll work? Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL

I use G-skill now and always will trust them i was just wondering.

In theory yes, the motherboard on the other hand may have other ideas. All motherboard manufacturers (or at least they should) have a QVL (Qualified Vendor List) of ram that they have tested, and is a good place to start with seeing what has been tested to work with the motherboard and go from there. The list isn't the be all and end all though as there is just too many different makes and models of ram, that and I don't think many if any of them update it after the motherboard is released.

In your case seeing as the G-Skill you have now works OK then the new stuff should too, but no guarantees.

There are other specs for the ram to look at and make sure they match, not just the speed.





Both of these are 1333 speed ram but the other specs don't match and will not work well together.

Jim