View original (French)

Dual Channel not activated despite identical modules

LeTesteur Posted messages 118 Status Member -  
epango Posted messages 37195 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -
Hello everyone,

I bought 8GB of G.Skill RAM (2x4GB) to complement my existing 8GB and thus upgrade to 16GB. My existing 8GB was in Dual Channel.

To ensure my additional 8GB would also be in Dual Channel, I bought exactly the same modules: G.Skill Ripjaws X DDR3-1600. The exact model is as follows: F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL (CL9-9-9-24 1.50V)

My motherboard is an ASRock Z75 Pro3.

I just checked in CPU-Z, and my new modules are not in Dual Channel: https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2020/22/6/1590841831-2outof4dualchannelram.jpg
Why? How can I get them to switch to Dual Channel?

Thank you in advance!
Julien

4 answers

  1.
    epango Posted messages 37195 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   Ambassadeur 4 270
     
    The memory sticks work well in dual channel. It is indeed a trap: single or dual ranks concern the arrangement of memory chips on the PCB, not the functioning in single or dual channel.

    --
    To misname things is to add to the misery of the world (Albert Camus)
    1
  2. LePaangoliquiri
     
    Hi, first of all, you need to check that all these RAM sticks are compatible with the motherboard in dual channel mode in the manual and on the manufacturer's support site. *Moreover, you should also check on the motherboard's support site if a BIOS update is available for this type of problem.* The most common case is that it may work but only at a lower frequency, let's say a basic frequency, so you need to configure them in the updated BIOS at a lower frequency than their normal usage. So there's no guarantee that this makes much of a difference between dual channel and single mode.
    0
  3. epango Posted messages 37195 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   Ambassadeur 4 270
     
    Despite appearances, the memory sticks are not quite identical: some are single ranks and others are dual ranks. This difference is likely taken into account.

    PS: you need to check in Memory to see if they operate in single or dual channel.

    0
    1. LePaangoliquiri
       
      Hi, this is not a viable response. This type of RAM is only available in dual rank on the printed circuit, meaning there's a twin on the other side to validate the data. Single rank consists of certified and perfectly reliable chips, so there is no impact between dual and single. Only their probability of errors is validated, and therefore the two technologies cannot yet be separated; they function identically in the end. What needs to be noted is that dual ranks are not more performant than certified single ranks, which has nothing to do with the subject being discussed.
      0
      1. epango Posted messages 37195 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 270 > LePaangoliquiri
         
        What are you talking about? I may not have your vast knowledge. But I strive to express things correctly. I said "probably." You should have understood that nuance. I told him to check the "Memory" section. That's where it's indicated whether the memory modules work in single or dual channel. He himself said that the memory modules did not work in dual channel. I did not mention performance.
        0
      2. LePaangoliquiri > epango Posted messages 37195 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         
        Sorry for the nuance, I haven't seen anything like that yet I can clearly see 256 shades of gray, or not?
        0
  4. LeTesteur Posted messages 118 Status Member 84
     
    Thank you both for your responses

    So I believe I was misled by the "Ranks" column. For me, when this column indicated "Dual," it meant that the modules in question were in Dual Channel, and when it indicated "Single," it meant they were operating in Single Channel.

    But apparently, if I understood correctly, this "Ranks" column has nothing to do with Single or Dual Channel.

    In the "Memory" section, I have this: https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2020/22/7/1590957063-ram-dualchannel.jpg

    There aren’t any details per module, though. Does this mean that all my 4 modules are indeed operating in Dual Channel?

    Thank you in advance!
    0