These RAM configurations are quite popular these days.
These RAM configurations are quite popular these days.
I recall the past when DDR3 was the norm, and many used special configurations to hit certain memory goals. For instance, 3x 4GB (12GB) or 4x 2GB (8GB) or 3x 8GB (24GB). Recently I came across an Ebay auction listing a set of DDR4 Corsair Vengeance LPX with eight 4GB modules totaling 32GB. It was odd to see such a collection, as 32GB is usually arranged as four 8GB sticks or two 16GB sticks. I considered adding one 8GB stick to my existing 16GB configuration, but prefer upgrading to 32GB sooner rather than later. Now I’m curious—do people today still use these kinds of DDR4 setups? The Ebay example seems suited mainly for a Threadripper with a quad channel setup. If you try an unusual configuration like this, what did you experience? Fun fact: back then I believed running four sticks meant a quad channel, but I discovered it’s not quite that way. Lol
They're just as usual. Everyone here often asks about RAM settings and gets confused about dual-channel functionality. I never thought about it before I used DDR2 and DDR3; I just picked an even number of sticks because that felt right at the time.
The advantage of using four RAM sticks on a board with four DIMM slots is especially noticeable with AMD systems, where dual or quad rank setups are preferred (distinct from dual/quad channel). These memory setups are increasingly popular today, though they’re less common in the enthusiast community. Generally, most office users don’t mind mixing RAM types. Those who feel they need more simply purchase the best available sticks and install them. In most cases, performance remains satisfactory since many mainstream desktops already come with high-speed memory.
Triple channel memory use was once common, but it has largely faded. What replaced it is quad channel in the 2011 socket, which many consider more of a novelty. Socket 2011 boards do offer some benefits, yet quad channel architecture isn’t among them. When triple channel first appeared with the 1366 socket, it might have offered better performance compared to the earlier 1156 dual channel configuration at that time. Apr. 20, 2012