would a 3rd extra single strip of memory be bad on my current dual channel

whipgeez · 22 May 2011 at 15:34

as the title says, would adding a 3rd strip(only fit 3 in because of cpu fan) be detrimental to my dual channel memory i have at the moment?

Surveyor · 22 May 2011 at 15:48

It would make it run in single channel mode.

whipgeez · 22 May 2011 at 15:52

would 6gb single channel run any better than 4gb dual channel though?

cmndr_andi · 22 May 2011 at 15:58

It would run worse as I believe it would have only half the theoretical memory bandwidth.

Have you considered switching to low-profile memory like this or this so it will fit under the fan?

May I ask what CPU cooler you are using?

whipgeez · 22 May 2011 at 16:05

Xigmatek Dark Knight CPU Cooler is the cooler

it covers one of the slots

GeIL Value PLUS 4GB 1600MHz C9 is the memory

on a m4a88td-v evo/usb3.0 motherboard

cmndr_andi · 22 May 2011 at 16:10

Ah, that Geil RAM is actually already low-profile stuff.

Have you tried removing the cooler (or at least the fan), installing the RAM module in the slot closest to the CPU then reinstalling the CPU cooler (or just the fan)?

Surveyor · 22 May 2011 at 16:13

I take it you have a 64 bit OS to make use of more than 4GB?

I would have thought low profile memory would fit under the fan:

whipgeez · 22 May 2011 at 16:13

no, aint wort the bother to be honest, i'm just enquiring,

if it ever needs upgrading i'll just get 2x4gb in the future then, cheers for the help

edit: yeah i have win7 64bit

i'll have a closer look next time i take the side off, it might fit with a squeeze but from the side angle it looks like it wont

cmndr_andi · 22 May 2011 at 16:40

whipgeez said:
i'll have a closer look next time i take the side off, it might fit with a squeeze but from the side angle it looks like it wont

Yea, thats the point - from the side it won't go on - but if you remove the fan when installing it then it will fit with a bit to spare (as you can see from surveyor's picture).