What makes memory dual channel

However, it is important that the total capacity of channel A and channel B is identical — a requirement that can be met with two, three or four DIMMs. The Single mode is activated when the particular total capacity of the built-in modules differs in both channels.

This new, additional technology provides highest flexibility regarding the assembly of memory modules. It rather revokes all limitations and requirements for memory modules to date. The Dual Channel mode also works when using only two, three or four DIMMs with different total capacity in the memory channels. The highest capacity available in both memory channels is being used in Dual Channel mode.

Moreover, the address range operated in Dual Channel mode is mapped in the lowest, yet initially and mostly used area. The remaining memory is being run in Single Channel mode.

Find the suitable RAM now. Tags: Installation , Technology. And again my pc only support 2 DIMMs. Triple-channel architecture also uses interleaving, which is a method of assigning memory addresses to the memory in a set order. For dual-channel architecture, the original design combined two bit buses into a single bit bus, which was later called the ganged model.

The performance increases were not enough, however. Manufacturers found that two independent buses increased performance more, so the unganged model is usually set by default on most modern processors. For more information about computer hardware, read here. To take advantage of multi-channel memory, the processor must have a memory controller that supports the multi-channel architecture and the motherboard must support the architecture.

In addition, the RAM modules must be matched in as groups that correspond with the level of multi-channel architecture, for example, dual channel requires pairs, quad channel requires four modules, and so on. Motherboards that support multi-channel architecture will frequently have color-coded memory slots to help ensure that matched modules are inserted. Most DRAM manufacturers will sell memory in "kits" to ensure that the memory modules match in capacity, speed, latency, number of chips and sides, and the size of rows and columns.

It's best to buy RAM in kits compatible with your motherboard and processor if you intend to take advantage of multi-channel memory. To take advantage of a dual-channel platform when purchasing memory make sure to buy memory in identical pairs. For example, if you wanted to upgrade to an additional 2 GB of memory. Buy two 1 GB memory modules that are exactly identical. While each memory chip's speed doesn't need to be the same as the others, it's best to install memory with matching speeds.

If the speeds differ, the motherboard runs the memory chips at the speed of the slowest chip. Finally, if you are only installing two memory modules at a time make sure the memory is installed into the proper memory slots.