dual channel regarding Memory - what?! @_@

hi guys. can anyone give a brief info on what "dual channel" actually is regarding ram.

because i'm thinking about adding 1 stick of 2gb in addition to 2 sticks of 2gb(4gb total) that i already have.

my buddy told me that the "dual channel mode" would be removed if i added another stick.

currently 2 out of 4 ram slots on my motherboard are empty and since i'm adding 1 stick, empty slots would be

down to 1 out of 4 and the other 3 slots will each contain 1 stick of 2gb ram(6gb total).

if i had to guess, this "dual mode" means only taking up 2 out of 4 slots. having 3 removes the "dual channel."

whatever this dual channel mode is. does the pc lose performance if i lose that "dual channel mode" by adding another stick?

i always thought that adding ram just means adding more memory (ie. a good thing for my pc! :P)

any help would be appreciated. thank you.

Dual-channel architecture describes a technology that theoretically doubles data throughput from the memory to the memory controller. Dual-channel-enabled memory controllers utilize two 64-bit data channels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

Dual channel allows two data channels to be used simultaneously to access RAM. Whilst in theory it sounds great it makes pretty much no difference in practice.markop2003

I thought that was true with a difference between dual and triple channel, but dual vs single makes a difference performance-wise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

hi guys. can anyone give a brief info on what "dual channel" actually is regarding ram.

because i'm thinking about adding 1 stick of 2gb in addition to 2 sticks of 2gb(4gb total) that i already have.

my buddy told me that the "dual channel mode" would be removed if i added another stick.

currently 2 out of 4 ram slots on my motherboard are empty and since i'm adding 1 stick, empty slots would be

down to 1 out of 4 and the other 3 slots will each contain 1 stick of 2gb ram(6gb total).

if i had to guess, this "dual mode" means only taking up 2 out of 4 slots. having 3 removes the "dual channel."

whatever this dual channel mode is. does the pc lose performance if i lose that "dual channel mode" by adding another stick?

i always thought that adding ram just means adding more memory (ie. a good thing for my pc! :P)

any help would be appreciated. thank you.

Batang_X990

[QUOTE="markop2003"]Dual channel allows two data channels to be used simultaneously to access RAM. Whilst in theory it sounds great it makes pretty much no difference in practice.Janus67

I thought that was true with a difference between dual and triple channel, but dual vs single makes a difference performance-wise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

[QUOTE="Batang_X990"]

eBusiness

no i am not sure :P i just thought about it for future reference and for my lack of knowledges' sake.

AMD Athlon II X4 640 OC @ 3.3ghz

4gb(2 sticks of 2gb) DDR2-800 5-5-5-18

HD 5770 OC @ 915/1380

Win 7 64

700W Cool Master 80+

[QUOTE="eBusiness"]

[QUOTE="Batang_X990"]

Batang_X990

no i am not sure :P i just thought about it for future reference and for my lack of knowledges' sake.

AMD Athlon II X4 640 OC @ 3.3ghz

4gb(2 sticks of 2gb) DDR2-800 5-5-5-18

HD 5770 OC @ 915/1380

Win 7 64

700W Cool Master 80+