• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Hardware Secrets

Hardware Secrets

Uncomplicating the complicated

  • Case
  • Cooling
  • Memory
  • Mobile
    • Laptops
    • Smartphones
    • Tablets
  • Motherboard
  • Networking
  • Other
    • Audio
    • Cameras
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Desktops
    • Museum
    • Software
    • Tradeshows & Events
  • Peripherals
    • Headset
    • Keyboard
    • Mouse
    • Printers
  • Power
  • Storage
  • Video

Everything You Need to Know About the Dual-, Triple-, and Quad-Channel Memory Architectures

Let’s take a look at how the dual-, triple-, and quad-channel memory architectures work and how to enable them in order to improve your computer’s performance.

Home » Everything You Need to Know About the Dual-, Triple-, and Quad-Channel Memory Architectures

Triple-Channel Architecture

Contents

  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Bandwidth
  • 3. Dual-Channel Architecture
  • 4. Enabling Dual Channel
  • 5. Enabling Dual Channel (Intel and AMD Socket AM3+)
  • 6. Enabling Dual Channel (Other AMD Sockets)
  • 7. Triple-Channel Architecture
  • 8. Quad-Channel Architecture
  • 9. Checking if it is Correctly Enabled

As you can assume by the name, the triple-channel architecture triples the available memory bandwidth. This is done by expanding the memory data bus to 192 bits, which is accomplished by accessing three memory modules at the same time.
Currently, this mode is available only on the Intel socket LGA1366 (LGA1366) platform. This means that you can only enable this mode on motherboards and Core i7 CPUs that use this socket. These processors support DDR3 memories up to 1,066 MHz.
You will need three identical memory modules. Six modules can be used on motherboards with six memory sockets, and each group of three modules can have different capacities, but the modules inside the same group must be identical. If you install two memory modules, they will be accessed in dual-channel mode. In this case, you won’t achieve the maximum performance of which your system is capable.
There are two kinds of socket LGA1366 motherboards available: those with four memory sockets and those with six or more memory sockets.
On motherboards with four memory sockets, you must install the memory modules sequentially, in the sockets with the same color. In fact, it is rather strange that these motherboards have four memory sockets, since if you install a memory module in the fourth memory socket, it will be accessed in single-channel mode. So, the fourth module will be left unused. See Figure 10.

Triple ChannelFigure 10: Socket LGA1366 motherboard with four memory sockets

Motherboards with six memory sockets use the traditional scheme used by motherboards targeted to Intel CPUs. You must install the memory modules in the first, third, and fifth memory sockets, and these sockets almost always will use the same color, while sockets two, four, and six will use a different color. Therefore, simply install the memory modules in sockets with the same color. See Figures 11 and 12.

Triple ChannelFigure 11: Install modules in sockets with the same color

Triple ChannelFigure 12: Triple-channel mode enabled on a socket LGA1366 motherboard with six memory sockets

If you want to install six memory modules, the second group of memory modules must be installed in sockets two, four, and six unless all six modules are identical, in which case you will fill all six memory sockets and won’t need to worry about which sockets to use.

Continue: Quad-Channel Architecture

Memory Tutorials

Primary Sidebar

As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, this site may earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites.

audio connectors on a motherboard (right) and ethernet + usb connectors (left)

How On-Board Audio Works

Learn how the sound card that comes embedded on your motherboard works.

How To Connect Your PC to Your Home Stereo or Home Theater

Learn how to hook your PC to your stereo or receiver in order to enhance you audio experience while playing games, watching videos, listening to music or even editing audio.

motherboard

Which is the best motherboard for Coffee Lake CPUs?

We compared seven different motherboards for Intel eighth-gen (Coffee Lake) CPUs, to help you to choose which one is the best for you. Check it out!

RAM Install

Does more RAM make difference in gaming performance?

Does installing more RAM in your computer improves gaming performance? We tested some recent games with 4 GiB, 8 GiB, and 16 GiB to find out. Check it out!

How to Refill Epson Cartridges

Learn how to reset the Epson cartridge chip, allowing you to refill the cartridge.

Footer

For Performance

  • PCI Express 3.0 vs. 2.0: Is There a Gaming Performance Gain?
  • Does dual-channel memory make difference on integrated video performance?
  • Overclocking Pros and Cons
  • All Core i7 Models
  • Understanding RAM Timings

Everything you need to know

  • Everything You Need to Know About the Dual-, Triple-, and Quad-Channel Memory Architectures
  • Everything You Need to Know About the SPDIF Connection
  • Everything You Need to Know About the Intel Virtualization Technology
  • Everything You Need to Know About the CPU C-States Power Saving Modes

Follow Us

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · All rights reserved - Hardwaresecrets.com
About Us · Privacy Policy · Contact