Many computer startup guides usually recommend using dual channel mode for RAM. But what is dual channel RAM, how does it differ from other RAMs, and what benefits does it bring to the computer? If you want to find the answers to these questions, read on.
What is dual channel RAM?
To explain dual channel RAM, we need to explain how random access memory (or RAM) works. RAM is simply the system’s short-term memory for all kinds of files and programs. For example, if you open a web browser, data from various sites will be stored in RAM. Therefore, having more RAM allows you to keep more programs open at the same time without slowing down the system.
This data is transmitted to the processor through memory channels. These memory channels are communication channels that allow the system to access temporary data stored in RAM. Therefore, the greater the number of these channels, the faster the system can reach this data.
Dual channel mode, as the name implies, uses two memory channels to increase the transfer speed between RAM and the processor. In dual channel mode, two RAMs communicate with the system simultaneously through separate channels, and this process significantly increases the speed of program execution.
As a result, using dual channel mode, regardless of RAM capacity, significantly improves system performance. For example, most of the time, if you use two 4GB RAMs in dual channel mode, they will usually perform better than an 8GB RAM in single-channel mode.
Select dual channel RAM
Using dual channel mode depends on your system motherboard. To use this mode, the motherboard must have at least two RAM slots capable of supporting this feature. Fortunately, most motherboards released in recent years support this feature, and many of them use color slots to make it easier for users to put RAM where they want it.
If a motherboard has more than two slots, they are usually in pairs of two channels. For example, the 4 slots on the motherboard have two different colors, and you must place both of your RAMs in the same color slot.
To buy two RAMs to take advantage of dual channel mode, the brand and name of the manufacturer is not very important, and in this regard, you should pay more attention to other points. All in all, in order to get the best possible performance, it is better that both memories are the same in terms of capacity, speed and latency. To minimize confusion, it is best to purchase a pair of rams from a company so that you can be sure that their features are similar.
Four-channel RAM
When using two channels instead of one leads to improved performance, then using more channels will also affect system performance. Although the use of three-channel and four-channel RAMs perform better than two-channel mode, the difference between them may not be as significant as the upgrade from single-channel to two-channel mode.
Currently, only a limited number of high-end processors and motherboards support three-channel and four-channel mode. To check this, you need to check the specifications and features of your system processor and motherboard.
Upgrade for laptop
Like desktop computers, the use of dual channel RAM significantly improves the performance of laptops. Currently, most laptops come with just one RAM, but many have an empty RAM slot that allows dual channel mode. If you think your system will slow down after opening multiple applications, increasing RAM capacity and using dual-channel mode can be a convenient and cost-effective way to improve the performance of your laptop.
Laptop RAMs are much smaller than desktop RAMs. Also, in many laptops, you can change the RAM without having to open the body completely, because in the lower part of many laptops, there is a separate section for changing the RAM, which you just need to open this part. All in all, there are many tutorials in this area, and it is better to check the tutorials related to your laptop model so that you do not encounter any problems while doing this.
To ensure compatibility, we recommend that you find the model, capacity and speed of RAM in your laptop to buy a similar RAM to upgrade. Another solution is to remove the existing RAM and use two new RAMs for your laptop. Of course, this recommendation will work in the case that the RAM can be replaced because in some laptops it is not possible to change the RAM.
