Quad channel in an X58 board instead of triple channel?

Draeger

Draeger

Draeger

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Can I run 12800 DDR3 in an X58 board in quad or dual channel mode, i.e. 4 x 4Gb=16Gb? What difference does it make whether it's quad/dual or triple channel? It's just that lately I've been keeping an eye on memory prices with a view to upgrading from 6Gb (currently 3 x 2Gb XMS3) in triple channel configuration as I have now to 12Gb (3 x 4Gb modules) but prices of triple channel kits seem to be more expensive than 16Gb quad channel stuff.

Am I better sticking with triple channel configuration or can I move to a quad kit without any hassle? I suppose I could just buy a quad kit and run only three modules, leaving the fourth one out? I'm sure I read somewhere that if you fit four modules it will still run in triple channel mode and the fourth module will just sit in some sort of 'spare' addressable mode?
 
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you could run 16gb (four sticks) in dual channel mode or take one stick out and run 12gb in triple channel mode (three sticks)

x58 wont run the ram in quad channel mode (four sticks),for that you'd need an x79 chipset motherboard
 
Ah, I see. Thanks for clarifying. I think my best bet is look for a decent 4 x stick kit and see how it goes. Just like decent X58 motherboards are, triple channel DDR3 seems to command extortionate prices compared to 'newer' kit.
 
Thread bump - I've just bought THIS - 16Gb Corsair Vengeance in a 4x4Gb matched kit config. Will be interesting to see how this runs in my system in both 12Gb and 16Gb config.

@Hoodleader - Did you try your spare stick in your X58 at all to give 16Gb?
 
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