12GB ddr3 tri-channel or 16GB ddr3 dual?

[pcmasterrace]

I have an old HP workstation that I popped an rx 480 into, I also have 16GB ddr3 1333 4x4GB as it's Intel x58 I can run dual or tri channel ram, so what would be best 12gb tri channel or 16gb dual channel?

 

[Mr.Scott]

You run tri channel on X58. That's what it's known for.

 

[silentbogo]

I'd go for 12GB triple-channel for now. You'll get a lot more bandwidth. Unless you are planning on playing some latest AAA titles, 12GB should be enough, and meanwhile start saving for a couple more sticks.

 

[pcmasterrace]

You run tri channel on X58. That's what it's known for.

I know about x58, though it can also run dual channel just fine

I'd go for 12GB triple-channel for now. You'll get a lot more bandwidth. Unless you are planning on playing some latest AAA titles, 12GB should be enough, and meanwhile start saving for a couple more sticks.

Yea, I was thinking along those lines also, the extra bandwidth would benefit games more than the extra 4GB, what about other things however like rendering/blender video editing etc? do they benefit from higher bandwidth at all?

 

[silentbogo]

what about other things however like rendering/blender video editing etc? do they benefit from higher bandwidth at all?

I think you'll feel more constrained by the CPU rather than anything else. Many 3D modeling apps rely on AVX, which Nehalem and Westmere lack, plus you are about 10 iterations behind in terms of generational performance bumps. There are some situations where more RAM would help, but you'll be better off leaving it at 12 until you get 2 more sticks for whooping 24GB triple-channel.
That's what I had on my Westmere rig before parting it out.

 

[HenryJiM]

I have an old HP workstation that I popped an rx 480 into, I also have 16GB ddr3 1333 4x4GB as it's Intel x58 I can run dual or tri channel ram, so what would be best 12gb tri channel or 16gb dual channel?

12gb tri is the fastest if you have 6 ram slots. I have an HP Z400 and after a good bit of trial-and-error backed up with benchmarking I can confidently say that 3 sticks is the fastest config. in a 6-slot Z400 running 6 sticks forces the memory to run at a lower frequency (1066 vs 1333 MHz) and is consistently slower in benchmarks. I'm running 3x8gb 12800u with 0 problem for quite a while now.

 

[Vario]

Interestingly on the Asus P6X58D-E I am running, it claims 4 DIMM is also triple channel.
I tried running 6 DIMMs of Samsung HYK0 but it didn't work, and running 4 seemed odd to me in spite of the manual, so I just ran 3 DIMM when I configured this system. IIRC, I sold the rest of the Samsung HYK0, apart from 1 DIMM left in the box unused. I suppose I could throw that DIMM in and see what CPU-Z reports (re: Dual or Triple). I don't really have a use for more than 8GB of ram on this system, in reality.

 

[silentbogo]

Interestingly on the P6X58D-E I am running, it claims 4 DIMM is also triple channel.

It's HP's quirk (same on few other workstation boards), just BIOS-locked to either dual-channel w/ 4 sticks, or triple-channel w/ 3 sticks.
On consumer boards you could to 12GB triple-channel plus 4GB single-channel.

 

[agent_x007]

Can't you just do 18GB (3x4GB + 3x 2GB) ?

 

[Vya Domus]

Well obviously triple channel is faster but honestly I don't really think it matters that much on a system that old, I'd pick the option which gives more memory to be honest.

 

[pcmasterrace]

12gb tri is the fastest if you have 6 ram slots. I have an HP Z400 and after a good bit of trial-and-error backed up with benchmarking I can confidently say that 3 sticks is the fastest config. in a 6-slot Z400 running 6 sticks forces the memory to run at a lower frequency (1066 vs 1333 MHz) and is consistently slower in benchmarks. I'm running 3x8gb 12800u with 0 problem for quite a while now.

It is a 6 slot HP z400, though for some reason even with 2/3 sticks of 1333 RAM which is the max supported speed for the z400 I believe, they will only run at 1066, I'm not sure why, perhaps I should try some other sticks I have lying around, that said, I think I will opt for tri channel and make the most of the added bandwidth vs dual as it will likely represent slightly better gaming performance.

Can't you just do 18GB (3x4GB + 3x 2GB) ?

Well it would mean buying 2GB sticks which I don't have and in that case I'd rather just grab another 3x4GB sticks and go all out for 24GB

Well obviously triple channel is faster but honestly I don't really think it matters that much on a system that old, I'd pick the option which gives more memory to be honest.

This was my gripe slightly faster/less capacity vs slower/more capacity though I am inclined to go the opposite way and opt for the faster tri channel albeit with 4GB less RAM, though thanks for your input none the less

 

[HenryJiM]

It is a 6 slot HP z400, though for some reason even with 2/3 sticks of 1333 RAM which is the max supported speed for the z400 I believe, they will only run at 1066

I think it throttles to 1066 if there is more than one DIMM installed per channel, 1333MHz / pc3-10600 cl9 is the fastest it will run.
best config, counting from the slot farthest from the CPU socket: 1st, 3rd, 5th slots used.

HP recommends 3x4 or 6x4 10600E but 10600u or faster is fine, ECC unbuffered is a bit rare and not really needed. lots of people run 8gb uDIMMs and I haven't heard anything bad about it. 8gb 12800E also works.

 

[pcmasterrace]

I think it throttles to 1066 if there is more than one DIMM installed per channel, 1333MHz / pc3-10600 cl9 is the fastest it will run.
best config, counting from the slot farthest from the CPU socket: 1st, 3rd, 5th slots used.

HP recommends 3x4 or 6x4 10600E but 10600u or faster is fine, ECC unbuffered is a bit rare and not really needed. lots of people run 8gb uDIMMs and I haven't heard anything bad about it. 8gb 12800E also works.

That could well be the problem, I think I have them installed in the 3 black slots assuming they would be 1/3/5, though looking at that diagram that's not entirely correct, strange layout maybe that's what threw me off. Thanks for the info, I'll check on this but suspect that's where the problem lies.

 

[HenryJiM]

I just remembered one more detail. not all LGA1366 CPUs will run at memory at 1333MHz. I think most of the "X" series Xeons do, you should look it up to be sure

 

[hat]

I just remembered one more detail. not all LGA1366 CPUs will run at memory at 1333MHz. I think most of the "X" series Xeons do, you should look it up to be sure

Odd. I found 1600 to be a great sweet spot, given FSB 200 and whatever QPI that worked out to.

I would try 12GB tri channel first. If that's not enough, I might shoot for 3x8GB then.

 

[freeagent]

Dual channel on X58?

Eww.

I mean.. it'll work.. but tri channel is where its maan.

You'll take a good hit in memory performance if you don't. You may, or may not notice.. depends on what your doing..

 

[HenryJiM]

Odd. I found 1600 to be a great sweet spot, given FSB 200 and whatever QPI that worked out to.

I expect gaming mobos would free up memory settings but the z400 goes off whatever the CPU natively supports. a surprising number of those CPUs specify low memory clocks
my z400 is running an X5675 6-core 12-thread 95W CPU

List of Intel Xeon processors (Nehalem-based) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[lexluthermiester]

I have an old HP workstation that I popped an rx 480 into, I also have 16GB ddr3 1333 4x4GB as it's Intel x58 I can run dual or tri channel ram, so what would be best 12gb tri channel or 16gb dual channel?

I am going to offer alternate input from my esteemed fellow TPU regulars and say: It depends. What is going to be your primary usage scenario? If you are going to be doing something that requires lots of system ram but ram bandwidth doesn't matter as much, do the 4X4GB in dual channel mode. If you are going to do anything where ram bandwidth will be important, go with 3x4GB in triple channel.

However, there is a third option: Buy another pair of matching 4GB ram sticks. You will then have 24GB and will have the best of both benefits. 2X4GB kits of DDR3 are not expensive. You can likely get a kit for 15GBP, if that.

 

[pcmasterrace]

I just remembered one more detail. not all LGA1366 CPUs will run at memory at 1333MHz. I think most of the "X" series Xeons do, you should look it up to be sure

Yup it was a w3520 which was originally in there and only supports upto DDR3 1066, when I swapped it out for the x5670 today, I made sure to update the bios first to support the x5670 dropped it in and it recognised it straight away and auto changed the RAM to 1333

 

[freeagent]

Depending on configuration, my x5690 occasionally defaults to 1066. I think when I activate the second channel with certain chips.. been awhile.. but mostly defaults to 1333.