3 GB DDR3 , tripple channel

[stereo]

Hello guys.
I wanna change from x86 to x64 Winfdows 7,but i need your advice.
Now i have 3 GB DDR3,in tripple channel. You think its ok if i get 1 more GB DDR3?
Should i go for 3 mor GB DDR3 ??
If i get only 1 GB RAM DDR3, its going to 'affect' the performance of tripple channel ?
Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

Consult the Gigabyte website. Ask them. They are the best-qualified to answer questions about their motherboards.

 

[bobkn]

I believe that adding a fourth DIMM will cause the system to drop back to dual channel mode. That's supported by your X58 chipset, but it may slow things down a little compared to triple channel.

I'd recommend 3 X 2GB over 6 X 1GB, but you'd be out rather more money.

 

[Night Hawk]

That model supports upto 24gb "Supports 3 channel DDR3 2100+ memory" GA-EX58-UD5 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification

Refer to the manual that comes with the board on installing memory. That will indicate how to configure the memory as far as which slots are used. If you misplace that at all go to GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - Manual Download for the download.

 

[copernicus]

The price difference between a 1 gig stick and a set of three is not worth sticking with only one gig.

 

[Night Hawk]

Typically you want to match what you already have in as much as possible for voltage range as well as the timings. On some Gigabyte boards the memory won't run if the memory is 1.9v while the board allows raising the memory clock up to see let's say the 1600mhz normal for the memory at 1.5v for DDR3 1600.

When switching board makes for this build the first pair was 1.9v until getting into the 1066mhz raised to 1333 with the OCZ 1.9v dimms. Yet the memory supported list shows numerous 1.9v items. This is why looking in the manual's installing memory section is essential to see what the voltage range is there.

( here I ended up replacing the first pair for substitute memory before the second pair of 2gb dimms could be ordered!)

 

[Phone Man]

Here is a snip from the motherboard manual.



In dual channel mode each of the two channels will have 2gb.

In triple channel mode channel 0 will have 2gb and the next two channels will have 1gb each. It is all determined by where you place the memory sticks. I have no idea which option would perform better.

Jim

 

[bobkn]

Here is a snip from the motherboard manual.

View attachment 91512

In dual channel mode each of the two channels will have 2gb.

In triple channel mode channel 0 will have 2gb and the next two channels will have 1gb each. It is all determined by where you place the memory sticks. I have no idea which option would perform better.

Jim

Interesting. I thought that "triple channel" required three same-sized DIMMs to be addressed in parallel (192 bit equivalent memory path).

The same 4-DIMM config is listed for my (Asus) X58 board, but without any explanation.

 

[Phone Man]

Here is a snip from the motherboard manual.

View attachment 91512

In dual channel mode each of the two channels will have 2gb.

In triple channel mode channel 0 will have 2gb and the next two channels will have 1gb each. It is all determined by where you place the memory sticks. I have no idea which option would perform better.

Jim

Interesting. I thought that "triple channel" required three same-sized DIMMs to be addressed in parallel (192 bit equivalent memory path).

The same 4-DIMM config is listed for my (Asus) X58 board, but without any explanation.

Good question. I have not researched very much on how these channels operate. My impression is each channel is independent and has its own memory controller. On my Asus ATI board I can run the two channels separately or combine them into one channel which then runs as one controller. I need to do some more reading on this subject.

Jim

 

[Night Hawk]

The chart there shows which dimm slots are populated not what size is needed for individual slots. Since the max is 24gb you can assumed each slot supports upto 4gb dimms.(6x4=24)

When sizes are mixed the memory is totalled collectively and divided across each channel. If you have three 2gb dimms in dual channel divide by 2. For triple channel divide by 3. The manual will go into that further.

On the Gigabyte dual channel board here if you have 1gb in the first and 2gb in the second you see 1.5gb per channel when in the dual channel configuration. The manual still recommends using the exact brand, size, timings, etc. of course to see the best performance rather then mixing dimms.

Here's a snip from the section 1-2 page #16 of the manual.

 

[stereo]

Here is a snip from the motherboard manual.

View attachment 91512

In dual channel mode each of the two channels will have 2gb.

In triple channel mode channel 0 will have 2gb and the next two channels will have 1gb each. It is all determined by where you place the memory sticks. I have no idea which option would perform better.

Jim

I have 3 x 1 GB
They are in DDR3_1 / DDR3_3 and DDR3_5.
If i put the same memory,model... 3 x 1 GB in the empty slots ( DDR3_2 / DDR3_4 and DDR3_6 ) what do you think ??

 

[Night Hawk]

I can tell you it will depend according to the chart in the manual as to which mode will be set depending which slots you insert the dimms into. That is what sets the mode. You will either see 3gb in dual or 3gb in triple according to that.

 

[bobkn]

I have 3 x 1 GB
They are in DDR3_1 / DDR3_3 and DDR3_5.
If i put the same memory,model... 3 x 1 GB in the empty slots ( DDR3_2 / DDR3_4 and DDR3_6 ) what do you think ??

I think you'd have 6GB of RAM, in triple channel mode.

There's a chance that the motherboard may not like having all 6 slots populated, but you can probably address that by manually setting the RAM timings and voltages. (I had to do that on my Asus P6T Deluxe, to get six DIMMs to run at DDR3 1600. Probably not an issue at lower frequencies.)

 

[Night Hawk]

Interesting! Here all four dimm slots are populated on this model for the 8gb presently installed without any issues once the memory with the manual listed voltage not the memory support list memory was in.

As long as the multiple dimms match you shouldn't run into any real problems if you follow the manual. You want the same voltage range to see the default memory speed. That requires bringing up the memory clock if the memory speed is higher then the default which is found typically at the slowest speed supported by the board.

Once you see the "ungauged" at post with the memory running at it's own native speed you're all set that way.