Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD5 and TR3X6G2000C8GT

[Ericiw]

Trying to find memory for Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD5 with Intel i7-860. Gigabyte lists http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/mb_memory_ga-p55a-ud5.pdf TR3X6G2000C8GT and CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 plus others. However GA-P55A-UD5 manual says only fit 2 or 4 modules. Doesn't that mean only 4 or 8GB ? Where does dual channel come in ? Is it motherboard or CPU or both ?

[Wired]

They're listing a triple stick kit because you can use two out of the three sticks.

[RJLeong65]

Trying to find memory for Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD5 with Intel i7-860. Gigabyte lists http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/mb_memory_ga-p55a-ud5.pdf TR3X6G2000C8GT and CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 plus others. However GA-P55A-UD5 manual says only fit 2 or 4 modules. Doesn't that mean only 4 or 8GB ? Where does dual channel come in ? Is it motherboard or CPU or both ?

 

Dual channel comes in your CPU. All i-series processors have an on-CPU-package but off-die memory controller. (That memory controller is on a separate circuit board that's located under the same heat spreader as the CPU die - and that memory controller circuit board is then connected to the CPU die through a dedicated connection.)

[Ericiw]

Dual channel comes in your CPU. All i-series processors have an on-CPU-package but off-die memory controller. (That memory controller is on a separate circuit board that's located under the same heat spreader as the CPU die - and that memory controller circuit board is then connected to the CPU die through a dedicated connection.)

 

So I take it that as my CPU does not have triple channel, there is no point in buying a 6GB set. Presumably CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 or CMD4GX3M2A1600C8 would be suitable, they are both listed by Gigabyte for GA-P55A-UD5. I can then add another 4GB in future.