Ryzen Dual Channel Vs Single Channel

Yous've probably heard that yous should run your memory (RAM, not the same as vRAM) in dual channel mode. In other words, you should always get two sticks of RAM (a kit) instead of one if yous want the best operation. Just what is dual-channel memory configuration, and how does it work? Next, what are the advantages of running RAM in dual aqueduct, or maybe quad-channel mode? And is it right that information technology's near incommunicable to make two different RAM sticks run in dual channel configuration? Read on and find out the differences between running RAM in unmarried-channel, dual-channel, and quad-aqueduct configs.

How does it all work?

Unlike retentiveness rank, a spec that entirely depends on the design of a RAM stick itself, whether you'll be able to run RAM in multi-channel configuration depends on your CPU and motherboard. The retention controller in your CPU (back in the day, the memory controller was role of the board'southward chipset) can support either dual, triple (quite rare these days), or quad-channel retentivity performance. Side by side, dissimilar motherboard models have support for different multi-aqueduct configurations.

Y'all can only run retentiveness in single-channel or dual-aqueduct modes on mainstream or consumer-grade platforms (AMD Ryzen, Intel Core series of CPUs). Only HEDT CPUs and motherboards (AMD Threadripper and EPYC, Intel Core Extreme, and Xeon series) back up running memory in a quad-aqueduct mode of functioning.

Merely if you have a consumer-grade CPU and board, they usually come with a memory controller with ii-channel support and DIMM slots that feature 2 physical retentiveness channels. Each memory channel has a 64-bit bandwidth, and here lies the principal reason for running memory in the multi-aqueduct configuration. Past running information technology in dual channel mode, y'all practically double the data rate from 64-scrap to 128-bit (or 256-fleck, in the case of quad-channel configuration).

Now, on the motherboard side, RAM slots supporting dual-channel configurations are ordinarily colored the same. So, if you have a dual-stick retentivity kit, install the two sticks in DIMM slots that accept the same color. They are usually slots ane and iii or ii and 4. On some models, this can be different but if y'all're not sure, follow the coloring scheme.

Running retention in multi-channel configurations tin have certain functioning benefits. In instance yous're using apps that can employ this actress retention bandwidth. For instance, if you lot're playing an open-earth game where data is constantly swapping in and out of RAM. Having a 128-scrap retentivity bandwidth instead of a 64-chip i volition increase functioning in these demanding open-world games.

A like thing tin be said about retentivity-heavy apps (rendering apps, video editing tools, programs used for simulations, and machine learning). Doubling or quadrupling the memory bandwidth should increase performance to a sure degree. Just just how much? Let'due south find out.

Performance differences in games and apps

So, let'southward start with gaming. The electric current open-world trend in gaming means games need more than RAM than e'er. And, if possible, they prefer fast RAM that runs in multi-channel configuration. This allows the CPU to wheel through memory faster and more than efficiently, which should increase functioning. You can observe more about how CPU and RAM work together and depend on one another in our RAM vs CPU guide.

In practice, this indeed works as intended. In most games, you lot will see more than ten pct of performance increase, no matter whether you run the games in 1080p or 1440p. Considering, in most cases, you lot're GPU-limited at 4K resolution, we await these gains to be less pronounced (if any) when playing demanding games at 4K. Esports titles will come across noticeable improvements. They run very fast even in 4K since they're not GPU-bound at 4K. AAA games that struggle to reach 60fps with ultra settings won't see that high of a benefit.

And this also works for older titles. Here you can see that CS: Go, a game that's almost a decade sometime (aye, we know, it has been nearly ten years since this game came out), sees up to a 33 percent performance increase when running on a system with a dual-channel retentivity configuration. Of form, not all games volition meet a benefit (come across Doom in the offset video or Full War Shogun 2 in this Gamer's Nexus analysis). But, in most cases, you lot will see significant improvements.

Practise note that, even if you don't come across a higher average frame rate, there's a good adventure you will get college 1% and .1% lows. Next, running faster retention in single-channel fashion will net you fewer frames than running slower retentiveness in dual channel config. In other words, it'south better to get two sticks of slower retention than one stick of fast RAM.

And, what'due south also very of import, running a smaller amount of memory in dual channel manner leads to better performance than running more memory in unmarried-channel mode. In other words, fifty-fifty if you plan on getting a budget build (let's say, with eight gigs of RAM), spend a bit more greenbacks on an 8GB kit with two sticks instead of a unmarried 8GB stick unless yous're planning to get a second stick before long and tin get the same memory, with the same speed and timings. More on this later.

In applications, at that place are some performance benefits. But, they aren't as pronounced equally when playing games. Yous tin can net a couple of percent in most apps, and that'southward about it. Enervating apps used for simulations and other farthermost computations, such as the Euler 3D, will see a double-digit performance crash-land. As for the quad-aqueduct vs. dual-channel performance, you'll get wider bandwidth, simply not much in terms of performance increment.

The same works for games. They run much ameliorate when you switch from single-aqueduct to dual-channel configuration. Only, you won't get extra performance if you switch from a dual-channel to a quad-channel system. One interesting finding is that you can get faster boot times and performance in Windows x if y'all switch from single-channel mode to dual channel. Some other reason to always become dual channel.

Only call back that if your graphics card is the principal clogging in your system, chances are you won't run into a loftier performance increment, as shown in different analyses featured here. Now, allow'southward talk about how different memory sticks piece of work together and whether it's indeed almost incommunicable to brand two unlike RAM sticks run in dual channel mode.

Can two different RAM sticks run in dual-aqueduct configuration?

At that place'southward an unwritten dominion in the DIY PC community that says the following: if y'all plan on running your retention in dual or quad-channel mode, get a RAM kit from the showtime. Information technology'south considering getting different RAM sticks to run in multi-channel configuration is side by side to impossible, fifty-fifty if they run at the same frequency and have the same timings.

The reality is a bit different. Now, two things are sure:

If yous want to combine two RAM modules, make sure they're based on the aforementioned compages. Then, combine DDR3 with DDR3 or DDR4 with DDR4.

Encounter likewise

When you combine ii RAM sticks, the faster ane volition work at the speed of the slower module. This is truthful regardless if you run the two sticks in a single channel or dual channel mode. Y'all can attempt overclocking the slower stick and, if you lot succeed, the ii sticks will work at the OC frequency of the slower module.

You tin can mix other specs, and you'll withal have a skillful chance of running dissimilar modules in multi-channel mode. At least if you're planning on populating two DIMM slots. Or three slots, two with a RAM kit and one with an actress memory module. Occupying 4 slots with dissimilar memory volition probably cause all sorts of issues, so we don't recommend that.

Equally we said, if you manage to overclock the slower module to run at the speed of the faster module, you lot won't be limited to the speed of the slower stick when running memory in dual channel manner. You can mix and friction match modules from dissimilar manufacturers, and there's a solid chance they will work together, but at the speed and timings of the slower module.

Now, if you plan on upgrading your memory and have only a unmarried RAM stick, we recommend getting the second stick from the same manufacturer with other specs beingness as shut to your current stick. You can get a module from a dissimilar brand, but the chances of them cooperating without issues won't be equally high.

Further, practise not forget that similar modules from the aforementioned manufacturers tin have their retentiveness chips manufactured by dissimilar companies. For instance, look at these two One thousand.Skill Trident Z Neo RAM kits:

Trident Z Neo 32GB (2x16GB) 3600MHz CL16-19-19-39
Trident Z Neo 32GB (2x16GB) 3600MHz CL16-16-16-39

They look pretty much the same, simply the first uses retentiveness chips from SK Hynix, while the second includes memory fries from Samsung. Samsung's memory chips are better for overclocking and come with tighter latencies, making the second kit much more expensive. And so, if you had the second kit and wanted to upgrade to four RAM sticks, you lot could run into issues. Buying the first kit volition brand your original RAM run with looser timings and probably allow it to overclock. So, don't forget to check out all specs (even the latencies) before purchasing.

In each case, make certain you tin return the new stick and get your money back earlier pulling the trigger. If you run across issues (and there's always a chance you will), y'all'd desire to have an easy way out. Our general advice is that if you can return the extra module you lot're getting, it's okay to purchase a unlike module and attempt running it in multi-aqueduct mode. If you cannot RMA the purchase, don't risk it.

Finally, when buying a Windows laptop or a prebuilt PC, make sure you option a config that comes with two UDIMM slots or two RAM sticks, respectively. Some laptop models accept dual-channel memory but simply one RAM slot. In these laptops, the second RAM module is soldered to the PCB. This makes upgrading the retentiveness further down the road complicated if yous want to keep using dual-channel configuration. And some prebuilt configurations come with simply 1 RAM module, meaning yous'll take to buy a second stick to enable dual-channel mode.