Solved Need RAM advice (mixing dual & triple channel)

[IonicRipper]

I have an Alienware Aurora with 3GB of RAM and im starting to feel its not enough.
I would like to add another 3 (6GB total) but i need some advice...

Buy the Crucial Dual Channel 4096MB PC8500 DDR3 Memory at TigerDirect.ca This is the RAM i was considering buying. I thought i would remove 1 of my 1GB sticks and install those for a total of 6GB but i just noticed i have triple channel memory, not dual. Can i mix those together?

Heres my memory specs:
3 x 1GB
DDR3
1066MHz
tri channel

 

[kegobeer]

Which Aurora do you have?

 

[stormy13]

No such tyhing as dual or triple channel ram. Ram is ram, and it is dependent on what the memory controller supports. That said no idea whether mixed sized sticks will run in triple channel or not

 

[IonicRipper]

Which Aurora do you have?

Standard version

 

[pparks1]

There is no such thing as dual channel or triple channel RAM. That depends upon your mobo and how many sticks you have installed and working together. The sticks themselves are exactly the same.

 

[IonicRipper]

Im confused...

CPUZ says im running triple channel and the specs on the Tiger Direct link say dual channel?
Does it mean the RAM on the Tiger Direct link i posted can only run dual?
I would simply like to know if the RAM i linked is compatible with my current RAM setup.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Im confused...

CPUZ says im running triple channel and the specs on the Tiger Direct link say dual channel?
Does it mean the RAM on the Tiger Direct link i posted can only run dual?

No.

It means that your motherboard controller supports triple channel, as CPUZ states.

The Tiger Direct RAM should run in triple channel if you had 3 sticks of it and it was otherwise compatible with your hardware.

 

[IonicRipper]

Ohh i get it... after a quick read on wikipedia, i understand how channels work

So is it possible to use 2 sticks of 1GB and 2 of 2GB like i was planning on doing?

 

[IonicRipper]

If not i could go for this set instead (just 13 bucks more) Buy the Crucial PC8500 1066MHz 6GB DDR3 Memory at TigerDirect.ca and remove the 3x1GB altogether

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ohh i get it... after a quick read on wikipedia, i understand how channels work

So is it possible to use 2 sticks of 1GB and 2 of 2GB like i was planning on doing?

I've never used triple channel and don't know how cranky those controllers can be.

The normal configuration would be either 3 sticks total or 6 sticks total.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If not i could go for this set instead (just 13 bucks more) Buy the Crucial PC8500 1066MHz 6GB DDR3 Memory at TigerDirect.ca and remove the 3x1GB altogether

Yeah, that would probably be my choice, considering how cheap RAM is.

If you have 6 slots, you may be able to find a way to use all 6 sticks, for a total of 9 GB, with your old and new RAM.

 

[IonicRipper]

Okay thanks ignatzatsonic, im gonna go for the 3x2GB