Safe to use Dual Channel in Tripple Channel mobo?

Lighters · 24 Sep 2011 at 18:44

I have Intel DX58SO http://ark.intel.com/products/36888/Intel-Desktop-Board-DX58SO

My friend has Corsair XMS3 4GB 2x2gb DDR Dual Channel
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-203-CS

Will the ram work in my X58 Intel DX58SO 1366 motherboard with i7-920 cpu.

Currently using Tripple chan ram but it needs to be RMA'd

I ask because it says # of Memory Channels 3

Surveyor · 24 Sep 2011 at 19:08

You can use 2 sticks of RAM in dual channel mode no problem.

Lighters · 24 Sep 2011 at 20:17

It would be 1 stick but I assume the same applies

thanks

Surveyor · 24 Sep 2011 at 20:21

Lighters said:
It would be 1 stick but I assume the same applies thanks

1 stick will work in single channel mode.

Lighters · 1 Oct 2011 at 05:15

I have been using the 1 stick of 2gb ram all day and its been running like crap in windows 7 64bit!

Dont know if it makes a difference but I put it into 1/3 blue slots thats for tripple channel as it refused to post when It was in the single channel black slot. Tried absolutely everything but it refused. Does it make a difference at all to the performance?

Surveyor · 1 Oct 2011 at 07:48

Lighters said:
I have been using the 1 stick of 2gb ram all day and its been running like crap in windows 7 64bit!

Dont know if it makes a difference but I put it into 1/3 blue slots thats for tripple channel as it refused to post when It was in the single channel black slot. Tried absolutely everything but it refused. Does it make a difference at all to the performance?

It doesn't make any difference where you put the stick as it's just going to run in single channel mode.

Your PC is bound to feel that it's running poorly compared to before.

Assuming you had 6GB of RAM before then:

a) You're now running with a third of the RAM

b) The memory bandwidth has been reduced by two thirds

The best you can do is check on the memory tab in CPU-Z that the RAM is running at 1600MHz with the correct timings.

CPU-Z should say 800MHz which is doubled as it's Double Data Rate RAM.

Lighters · 1 Oct 2011 at 19:51

Thanks for the info Surveyor. That is correct I have moved from 6gb to 2gb temporarily as I am in the process of an RMA. However I didnt expect this much of a difference as everyone reccomends 4gb of ram lol. Makes me want to just go and get 16 and see if its even better