Tri-Channel kit or 3 single memory sticks?

kylew_is_back · 6 Dec 2014 at 15:52

I plan to upgrade from 6GB to 12GB, what should I buy:

(3x £99) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-166-KS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=2426

(1x £120)http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-033-GS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=2424

Any reason to buy a Tri-Channel kit?

My specs
Mobo: ASUS P6T
CPU: Xeon x5650 OC(4360MHz, 219x20)
RAM: OCZ3G1600LV2G (3x2GB )<-- going to sell that because I don't like the idea of having 6 sticks, it might cause problems with my OC

OLDPHART · 6 Dec 2014 at 17:37

Just buy a 2x4GB Dual Channel Kit.

kylew_is_back · 6 Dec 2014 at 17:45

OLDPHART said:
Just buy a 2x4GB Dual Channel Kit.

Dual Channel on a triple-channel mobo :confused:

This will significantly reduce my memory bandwidth and also I need more than 8GB of ram.

OLDPHART · 6 Dec 2014 at 18:11

kylew_is_back said:
Dual Channel on a triple-channel mobo This will significantly reduce my memory bandwidth and also I need more than 8GB of ram.

Read your mobo manual, you also can use 4 ram slots as well apart from 2.

kylew_is_back · 6 Dec 2014 at 18:17

OLDPHART said:
Read your mobo manual, you also can use 4 ram slots as well apart from 2.

Dual Channel is out of the question, I am just asking if it is ok to buy 3 single memory sticks or the more expensive Tri-Channel kit.

Armageus · 6 Dec 2014 at 20:20

kylew_is_back said:
Dual Channel on a triple-channel mobo This will significantly reduce my memory bandwidth and also I need more than 8GB of ram.

~5% real world - probably more in benchmarks, but not the end of the world.

kylew_is_back said:
Dual Channel is out of the question, I am just asking if it is ok to buy 3 single memory sticks or the more expensive Tri-Channel kit.

Should be fine to buy individually - although if for any reason you do get 1 slightly different stick to the remaining 2 (e.g. same product but different batch) then you could potentially have an issue - UNLIKELY in Practice though

Not sure why you think 6 sticks is such a problem - it makes a little difference, but nothing really unless you are going for records.

(4360MHz, 219x20) is 218x20 btw - even if you had to drop a few mhz to stabilize the memory controller with 6 sticks, I doubt you would notice.

Draeger · 7 Dec 2014 at 09:56

X58 boards should be able to run with x4 slots populated in 'flex mode'. I'm currently running 16Gb Corsair Vengeance on my P6X58-D-E.

pandem0nium · 17 Dec 2014 at 12:16

kylew_is_back said:
I plan to upgrade from 6GB to 12GB, what should I buy:

(3x £99) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-166-KS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=2426

(1x £120)http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-033-GS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=2424

Any reason to buy a Tri-Channel kit?

My specs
Mobo: ASUS P6T
CPU: Xeon x5650 OC(4360MHz, 219x20)
RAM: OCZ3G1600LV2G (3x2GB )<-- going to sell that because I don't like the idea of having 6 sticks, it might cause problems with my OC

I don't know why everyone is telling you to shoot yourself in the foot and go dual channel.

3 x single channel sticks of the same ram should work fine. The kits are just guaranteed to play nicely together. I've never had any problems mixing ram with the same timings and voltage.