Dual channel question

[stipalgl]

Hey everyone,

So I just purchased a VAIO laptop with one 4GB stick soldered in and I'm looking to upgrade the remaining slot with either a 4 or a 8GB one.

So my question is this - if I choose the 8GB option, will I forego dual channel capability on account of the sticks not matching size? I was reading somewhere that RAM today isn't as picky as it was during the DDR1 era, but nothing I read seemed to be definitive (mostly speculation) and so I'm asking you guys.

I would prefer to go with the 8GB truthfully, with RAM being so cheap and all, but if I see better performance with another 4GB stick, then I guess that's what it'll come down to.

Any help or info is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Durvelle27]

no they will run in single channel as they have to match in size and speed.

 

[stipalgl]

Is this for sure? Can anyone else confirm this because some of the posts in the link state otherwise.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1197405/4-2-6gb-in-dual-channel

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Whether it runs in single or dual channel mode is irrelevant. Unless you are benchmarking, you will notice exactly zero difference in performance. Get the larger stick of ram.

 

[stipalgl]

So any possible performance boost from dual channel (4 x 4 ) will be negligible? Some other forum users are saying that with an extra 8GB stick, the first 4 GB will be in dual channel, while the unused are single.

So does that mean that any applications using less than 8GB RAM will keep the laptop in dual configuration? Thanks.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Whether it runs in single or dual channel mode is something determined at the hardware level, not by the application. But the difference in performance between single channel and dual channel is minor. You aren't going to notice it.

 

[KingFatty]

How much would you notice the difference in 8 GB of ram vs 12 GB of ram? I've never pushed the limit of my 8 GB, so not sure what usage scenario would go to 12?

 

[TheAvenger7]

oops, wrong thread