Dual-channel memory

Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope

Alternately called multi-channel memory, dual-channel memory is a DDR (double data rate), DDR2, or DDR3 chipset on the motherboard providing RAM (random-access memory) with two dedicated high-throughput data channels. The channels permit reading from and writing to memory to occur on distinct channels.

To utilize a dual-channel platform when purchasing memory make sure to buy memory in identical pairs. For example, if you wanted to upgrade to an additional 2 GB of memory. Buy two 1 GB memory modules that are exactly identical. While each memory chip's speed doesn't need to be the same as the others, it's best to install memory with matching speeds. If the speeds differ, the motherboard runs the memory chips at the speed of the slowest chip.

Finally, if you are only installing two memory modules at a time make sure the memory is installed into the proper memory slots. Almost always the memory slots will be color-coded to indicate the memory channel, as shown in the picture below. The first channel is often slots one and two, and the second channel is three and four. When installing memory in pairs make sure to install them into the same colored slot to use the dual-channel platform.

Computer motherboard

As assumed by the names, triple-channel architecture triples the available memory bandwidth and Quad-channel architecture quadruples the memory bandwidth. As with dual-channel architecture memory should be installed in a set of three or four depending on the architecture of the motherboard.

How do I know if dual-channel is active?

When active your initial boot screen that displays your memory speeds and capacity should show "Dual Channel" or "Dual Channel Interleaved" somewhere in the memory settings. Alternatively, programs like CPU-Z can also detect and display this information.

I have four memory chips, do they all need to be the same?

For dual-channel, you only need to install memory in pairs. All four memory sticks do not need to be the same, only the pairs need to be the same and installed in their proper memory slots.

Memory terms