What RAM For Sandybridge 2500k?

[alexander]

I'm sure this has been asked x amount of times before but...

Just ordered a new setup and I had ordered 3 x 2GB of 1600mhz HyperX RAM.

I have now cancelled this order as I was told that this is triple channel but Sandybridge uses dual channel.

Can I ask, if I bought 3 x 2GB of 1600mhz, could I use two of them and would they run in dual channel?

And if I was to buy 1 more stick of 2GB 1600mhz of the same brand could I run 8GB in 2 x dual channel?

Any quick response would be great!

Thanks.

PS: It is in an Asus P8P67-M Pro motherboard if that changes anything

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You will need RAM which will run at 1.5V such as the following:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-(...-9-9-9-24-150v

[GheeTsar]

Although 1.65v memory is meant to be OK at a push too (and most can be undervolted with no compromise anyway).

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The memory controller in Sandy Bridge seems to be sensitive to higher voltages so it would be better to keep to 1.5V DIMMs.

Anyway,you can get 4GB of 1.5V DDR3 for around £34.

[MSIC]

Alexander, your thinking is basically correct as I understand it.
It's certainly fine, but not optimal, to use 3 physical slots of memory as Intel has a technology (i think its called flex something) whereby if you are operating within the dual-channel range of memory (ie 4Gb in your example), it'll run in dual channel despite 3 slots being used. If the OS then calls for further memory to be used, the remainder works in single channel. At least, that is how i think it works.

Edit: Here you go.

Edit again: Although the Intel site seems to suggest that Flex works with 2 slots of different capacities, rather than 3 slots.
I now remain uncertain :/

[GheeTsar]

The memory controller in Sandy Bridge seems to be sensitive to higher voltages so it would be better to keep to 1.5V DIMMs.

Anyway,you can get 4GB of 1.5V DDR3 for around £34.

I think I meant that if you have a choice - go for the 1.5V stuff, but if you already have 1.65V stuff from a prior build then I'd stick with that.

[alexander]

Thanks very much for all the advice, I've just ordered the 4GB set posted. Seems to be very cheap!

[jim]

Benefits of dual-channel memory are pretty limited anyway, it's not that big a deal.