RAM SIZE VS RAM CHANNEL?

Question

Single Channel 6gb
Dual Channel 4gb
Tripple Channel 3gb

1) Which is best for just running any game that requires 2gb of ram(Dont think about the OS requirements)?

2) Does bandwidth really matter when running one game? How about 2 games(Like a web based game such as Runescape while running an installed game)

Answer 1

1. Tripple channel would be best in this example since all three channels can be used at the same time, providing faster access to the RAM.



2. Yes, see point 1. The more channels, the faster the RAM can be accessed. The difference between tripple channel and dual channel are small though and in real life the difference will hardly be noticeable.

Answer 2

1) Well you need to give me more detail to answer the question, such as the memory speed, like 1600mhz or 1333mhz? But any way...



Single channel is 1x6GB right?

Dual Channel is 2x4GB

Tripple is 3x3GB



Basically in this case the tripple or the dual is probably the best. It depends on what type of processor you plan to run though. Tripple RAM is normally run on very good processors so the computer as a whole would be better.



Having more RAM though makes the reseting of the cache happen more often. So a 6GB single would reset less often, but there is only 1 of them and it only totals to 6GB.



2) What do you mean by bandwidth? Do you mean internet or are we still talking about RAM here? If your talking about internet speed then yes it is pretty important for playing a game like runescape. As for bandwidth with RAM when playing runescape it hardly matters. Runescape is a java based game and has terrible graphics and requirements to run. You could play Runescape with no lagg on a single channel 2GB pretty much.

Answer 3

If you're playing Runescape, I can guarantee you it won't matter what type of channel's you're running.



Single Channel = Multiple or single chips that do not support dual or triple channel.

Dual channel = Two chips that allow for simultaneous channel access of both sticks.

Triple Channel = Same thing for two, except simultaneous use off 3 chips.



The more Channels the better as there is more total bandwidth available for critical processes.



But again, if you're just playing runescape, you do not need to worry about performance anything. 2008 technology will play that game just fine.

Answer 4

Ok ram capacity does not really have to do with much performance. if you have enough ram to cover everything you are running, you will not have any lag. if you are nearing the max of your ram, you may see some laging or freezing. Id recommend opening task manager (ctrl + shift + esc) and go to performance tab. Look at memory usage, then open EVERYTHING you can think of you would ever run, then look again. If your not atleast at 90% or more, you dont need more ram... 4gb in most cases is mroe then enough for most anyone for gaming,



Channels. Well to explain it more, dual channel means 2 sticks that will work together for better performance. But to get use of the dual channel your motherboard needs to support it (really now days all do), and you have to put them in the right slots. (they are all color coded now, ie, match the 2 red slots for dual channel memory).



The only motherboard that supports triple channel is the socket 1366. buying triple channel will have NO performance gain over dual channel if you dont have a triple channel motherboard/cpu.





when you see quad channel, that just means 2 sets of dual channel. because say if you buy ddr3 1600 @ cl6, the only dual channel set of that is 2x2gb (4gb). but it only can only run at ddr3 1600 @ cl6 with 1 set. If you say wanted 8gb of this, and bought 2 sets of dual channel, it probably wont be able to run all 4 sticks at 1600mhz with CL of 6. BUT they may have a quad channel set with 4 2gb sticks that can run all at 1600mhz @ cl6. (and that will be VERY expensive lol)



hexa channel is the same as above, but 2 sets of triple channel that will be able to run all at the rated speeds.





Ok now as for speed and CL(cas latency) that determines the speed and latency of the ram. the higher the mhz, the more data it can process in a time, but the timings (cas latency) are basically how long it takes to do it. So the faster in speed you go, the longer/higher the cas latency becomes. So you usually want to aim for the best speed with the lowest latency (really the best if pretty much ddr3 1600 @ cl6).



To get the sticks running at the rated speeds you usually have to manually set them in the bois, and usually have to play with voltages.



But really ram speeds dont affect gaming that much. your money would be better off spend in a better cpu/graphics card then in ram.

Answer 5

As has already been pronounced, twin-channel has two times the advice throughput of single channel. and because your chipset helps twin-channel, and P4's have been already starved for memory throughput (Intel got here up with twin-channel RAM specially to alleviate the advice starvation that P4's experienced while working single channel), you may get rid of that 256MB stick. one extra 256MB shouldn't make any distinction, besides, in spite of Vista. If it have been a 1GB stick, it might help.

Answer 6

Imagine RAM size as the size of a water tank and the channel as the number of pipes going to the water tank. The more channels ( pipes ) the quicker and more water you get into and from the tank in an amount of time. Bigger water tank equals more chicks in your shower ( applications able to run smootherly ) before it runs out. ( if it does run out ) Get the gist?