{"id":22859,"date":"2023-06-16T12:12:27","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T10:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=22859"},"modified":"2024-01-02T15:59:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T14:59:45","slug":"check-ram-dual-channel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Check If Your RAM is Running in Dual-Channel [Quick and Easy]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684404bb2ce0\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684404bb2ce0\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684404bb2ce0\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#What_is_Dual-Channel_RAM\" title=\"What is Dual-Channel RAM?\">What is Dual-Channel RAM?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#How_Dual-Channel_Operation_Impacts_Performance\" title=\"How Dual-Channel Operation Impacts Performance\">How Dual-Channel Operation Impacts Performance<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#How_To_Check_If_Your_RAM_Is_Running_In_Dual_Channel\" title=\"How To Check If Your RAM Is Running In Dual Channel\">How To Check If Your RAM Is Running In Dual Channel<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#Method_1_Windows_Task_Manager\" title=\"Method 1: Windows Task Manager\">Method 1: Windows Task Manager<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#Method_2_Use_CPU-Z\" title=\"Method 2: Use CPU-Z\">Method 2: Use CPU-Z<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#Method_3_Check_And_Fix_If_Needed_In_The_BIOS\" title=\"Method 3: Check (And Fix, If Needed) In The BIOS\">Method 3: Check (And Fix, If Needed) In The BIOS<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#What_If_My_RAM_Isnt_Running_In_Dual-Channel\" title=\"What If My RAM Isn\u2019t Running In Dual-Channel?\">What If My RAM Isn\u2019t Running In Dual-Channel?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#What_about_Quad-Channel_RAM\" title=\"What about Quad-Channel RAM?\">What about Quad-Channel RAM?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#Does_Dual-Channel_RAM_Work_on_Mini_ITX_Motherboards\" title=\"Does Dual-Channel RAM Work on Mini ITX Motherboards?\">Does Dual-Channel RAM Work on Mini ITX Motherboards?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#How_Do_I_Check_If_My_RAM_Is_Running_In_Quad-Channel\" title=\"How Do I Check If My RAM Is Running In Quad-Channel?\">How Do I Check If My RAM Is Running In Quad-Channel?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#Why_is_RAM_Frequency_So_Important\" title=\"Why is RAM Frequency So Important?\">Why is RAM Frequency So Important?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/check-ram-dual-channel\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>How do you check if your RAM is running in Dual-Channel, and what is Dual-Channel RAM anyway?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll tackle these and related questions in rapid form below, so let\u2019s not waste any time diving in:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Dual-Channel_RAM\"><\/span>What is Dual-Channel RAM?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>First, let\u2019s start by establishing what Dual-Channel RAM actually <em>is<\/em>.<\/strong> The first prerequisite is that you have two matching-size and matching-speed modules of RAM to use.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17667\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg\" alt=\"Single Channel vs Dual Channel Configuration\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17667 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Single Channel vs Dual Channel Configuration\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Most manufacturers will sell their RAM kits in two-stick, Dual-Channel ready configurations off the bat, but this may not always be ideal if you\u2019re, say, on a 2-slot board and want to <em>add<\/em> instead of <em>replace<\/em> RAM for an upgrade later.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dual-Channel RAM needs two matching slots on the motherboard to function properly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>On a <strong>standard motherboard<\/strong> (Micro ATX, ATX, or Extended ATX), these will usually come in pairs of \u201c<strong>every other slot<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>On an <strong>SFF<\/strong> (<strong>S<\/strong>mall <strong>F<\/strong>orm <strong>F<\/strong>actor) <strong>board<\/strong> like a Mini ITX board, a pair of <strong>non-spaced RAM slots<\/strong> may be your only option but should still support Dual-Channel operation.<\/p>\n<p>So by using two RAM Modules and the motherboard supports this, the modules will run in dual channel mode which can greatly increase its performance in select workloads.<\/p>\n<p>Here's how this works exactly:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Dual-Channel_Operation_Impacts_Performance\"><\/span>How Dual-Channel Operation Impacts Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, before I get too deep into this section, I actually have to correct a common misconception.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s common for a reason, though, since manufacturers are kind of pushy about this \u2018misconception\u2019 anyway. <strong>Basically, your advertised RAM Frequency is most likely falsely advertised. <\/strong>Allow me to explain.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21179\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht.jpg\" alt=\"Single Channel vs Dual Channel bandwidht\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21179 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Single Channel vs Dual Channel bandwidht\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/12\/Single-Channel-vs-Dual-Channel-bandwidht.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Basically, a known downside of \u201cDDR (Double Data Rate)\u201d RAM (most RAM) is that the <strong>effectiveness of the RAM will be limited when run in a single-channel configuration<\/strong>, or <em>more accurately,<\/em> a single-stick configuration.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22870\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR.jpg\" alt=\"SDR vs DDR\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22870 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"SDR vs DDR\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/SDR-vs-DDR.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>For this reason, your RAM will always show as operating at half-frequency when viewed in your Task Manager or BIOS <em>unless<\/em> Dual-Channel is enabled.<\/p>\n<p>But <strong>even when you\u2019re activating Dual-Channel mode, you\u2019re not <em>actually<\/em> doubling the speed<\/strong> of either of your RAM sticks. You are instead <strong>doubling their effective <em>data rate<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>So it\u2019d be <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mts-vs-mhz\/\">MT\/s instead of MHz<\/a>, as explained by Jerry in his article if the manufacturers felt like clarifying that to us in advertising.<\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t, but that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for at G100.<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/mts-vs-mhz\/\">my own research<\/a> on the topic, <strong>Dual-Channel RAM <em>does<\/em> have some meaningful boons for performance<\/strong>, depending on your applications. While these gains aren\u2019t going to manifest in every application or be particularly severe for most of them, it\u2019s still performance you paid for.<\/p>\n<p>So let\u2019s talk about how to make sure you\u2019re getting it, and how to fix it if you aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Check_If_Your_RAM_Is_Running_In_Dual_Channel\"><\/span>How To Check If Your RAM Is Running In Dual Channel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Windows_Task_Manager\"><\/span>Method 1: Windows Task Manager<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The easiest way to quickly check whether or not your RAM is running in Dual-Channel is to open up your own Task Manager in Windows.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Right-click any empty space on your Taskbar and click \u201cTask Manager\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>From there, click the \u201cPerformance\u201d tab and the \u201cMemory\u201d button to see a detailed reading of your current RAM usage statistics.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"657\" class=\"wp-image-22863\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager.png\" alt=\"Task Manager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager.png 781w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager-768x646.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 781px) 100vw, 781px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"657\" class=\"wp-image-22863 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20781%20657%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Task Manager\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20781%20657%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 781w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 781px) 100vw, 781px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager.png 781w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager-768x646.png 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/task-manager.png\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Find the field labeled \u201cSpeed\u201d<\/strong> beneath your Memory usage statistics. <strong>It should have a readout in MHz matching the advertised speed of your RAM kit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In my case, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/xmp-memory-profile-guide\/\">I\u2019ve enabled XMP<\/a> on my Corsair DDR4-3200 RAM kit, so...looks about right here.<\/p>\n<p>As established above, even though the Speed \/ Frequency is displayed at 3200mhz here, it's actually running at 1600mhz, but the datarate is 3200 mt\/s.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In any case, for DDR4 RAM faster than DDR4-2133 with an XMP Profile set correctly in BIOS, the number will most like be at 3200 or 3600MHz in Task Manager.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>Similarly, DDR5's most popular datarates are 5600 and 6000 MT\/s (displayed as MHz in Task Manager).<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Use_CPU-Z\"><\/span>Method 2: Use CPU-Z<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>CPU-Z is a handy little tool that'll display all kinds of information about your CPU, Motherboard, and Memory.<\/p>\n<p>It's free and needs no installation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpuid.com\/softwares\/cpu-z.html\" target=\"_blank\">Simply download it<\/a>, launch it, navigate to the &#8220;Memory&#8221; Tab, and voil\u00e0 the &#8220;Channel #&#8221; will let you know exactly what your RAM Channel configuration is currently running at.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast to the Windows task manager, CPU-Z also reports the RAM's frequency correctly. I'm running 1600MHZ, 3200MT\/s (XMP) DDR4 RAM in my system which (when rounded) is displayed correctly in CPU-Z.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gcdnb.pbrd.co\/images\/cSEKQTzs65ge.png?o=1\" alt=\"uploaded image\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"uploaded image\" data-src=\"https:\/\/gcdnb.pbrd.co\/images\/cSEKQTzs65ge.png?o=1\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/p>\n<p>The latest versions of CPU-Z show memory channels in the following format: (Number) X (Memory Bus Width).<\/p>\n<p>DDR4 modules have a single 64-bit channel, so the number of memory channels is equal to the (number). That's why a dual-channel configuration will show up as 2 x 64-bit and a quad-channel setup will show up as 4 x 64-bit.<\/p>\n<p>DDR5 DIMMs (memory modules), on the other hand, feature TWO 32-bit channels each.<\/p>\n<p>So, a dual-channel DDR5 configuration will show up as <strong>4 x 32-bit<\/strong> on CPU-Z's newest versions. Here's an example below:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.redd.it\/5pa07ikzftoa1.png\" alt=\"4x8GB DDR5 6400 showing 800MHz clock frequency : r\/Amd\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"4x8GB DDR5 6400 showing 800MHz clock frequency : r\/Amd\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i.redd.it\/5pa07ikzftoa1.png\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_Check_And_Fix_If_Needed_In_The_BIOS\"><\/span>Method 3: Check (And Fix, If Needed) In The BIOS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>So, you\u2019ve discovered through the Task Manager that your RAM isn\u2019t running at its advertised rate, and you\u2019re determined to resolve this by any means necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Or you just don\u2019t trust the Task Manager reading and want to double-check in your motherboard\u2019s BIOS. In either case, let\u2019s proceed!<\/p>\n<p>There are <strong><em>two main ways<\/em> to open up your BIOS. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first way, which <em>used<\/em> to be the easiest way, was just restarting your PC and pressing whatever onscreen key prompted \u201cSetup\u201d or \u201cBIOS\u201d on the splash screen.<\/p>\n<p>SSDs have made that screen go by faster than ever, so <strong><em>now <\/em>I would argue the easiest way to do it is actually from within Windows<\/strong> if you don\u2019t already know what key needs to be pressed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To open up your BIOS from within Windows, you\u2019ll need to prompt an Advanced startup<\/strong>. Press the <strong>Start<\/strong> key and begin typing \u201cStartup\u201d to get the prompt pictured below within Windows:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-22864\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-settings.png\" alt=\"Advanced startup settings\" width=\"347\" height=\"573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-settings.png 347w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-settings-182x300.png 182w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-22864 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20347%20573%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Advanced startup settings\" width=\"347\" height=\"573\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20347%20573%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 347w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-settings.png 347w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-settings-182x300.png 182w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-settings.png\"><\/p>\n<p>From here, you\u2019ll be given a Settings screen with an Advanced startup option. <strong>Clicking this<\/strong> will restart your PC.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"439\" height=\"162\" class=\"wp-image-22865\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-restart.png\" alt=\"Advanced startup restart\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-restart.png 439w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-restart-300x111.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"439\" height=\"162\" class=\"wp-image-22865 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20439%20162%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Advanced startup restart\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20439%20162%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 439w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-restart.png 439w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-restart-300x111.png 300w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/advanced-startup-restart.png\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Within the Advanced startup process, you\u2019ll get an option to enter your motherboard\u2019s BIOS<\/strong>. It should be labeled \u201cRestart to UEFI\/BIOS\u201d within the \u201cTroubleshoot\u201d menu.<\/p>\n<p>Once in the BIOS, you\u2019ll be able to find your Memory settings, as well as current readings on RAM frequency etc.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The exact look of your BIOS is going to depend on your motherboard\u2019s manufacturer, but<\/strong> I\u2019ve embedded screens of my Gigabyte BIOS above and below to help give an idea of what you should be looking for.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1917\" height=\"1073\" class=\"wp-image-22866\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios.png\" alt=\"AORUS BIOS\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios.png 1917w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-420x236.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1917px) 100vw, 1917px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1917\" height=\"1073\" class=\"wp-image-22866 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201917%201073%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"AORUS BIOS\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201917%201073%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1917w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1917px) 100vw, 1917px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios.png 1917w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-1536x860.png 1536w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios-420x236.png 420w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/aorus-bios.png\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_If_My_RAM_Isnt_Running_In_Dual-Channel\"><\/span>What If My RAM Isn\u2019t Running In Dual-Channel?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Fortunately running RAM in Dual-Channel is just a matter of installing your RAM in the correct slots, <\/strong>so learning you aren\u2019t running as intended will always be an easy fix...<strong>unless<\/strong> you only have a single RAM stick to begin with.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22871\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg\" alt=\"Dual Channel Configuration\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22871 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Dual Channel Configuration\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Dual-Channel-Configuration.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>If your PC only shipped with a single RAM stick<\/strong>, your best course of action will be to add an additional, identical RAM stick <em>or<\/em> replace the single stick with a Dual-Channel RAM kit upgrade.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_about_Quad-Channel_RAM\"><\/span>What about Quad-Channel RAM?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Quad-Channel RAM is...well, pretty much exactly what it sounds like<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>It works the same as Dual-Channel RAM and just boosts raw Megatransfers, it doesn\u2019t actually boost the performance in Megahertz of RAM either. <strong>It just uses 4 RAM sticks instead of 2 RAM sticks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22872\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration.jpg\" alt=\"Quad-Channel Configuration\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22872 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Quad-Channel Configuration\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/06\/Quad-Channel-Configuration.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>The <em>actual<\/em> performance difference isn\u2019t particularly meaningful, so don\u2019t sweat about starting off with 2 RAM sticks on a board that supports Quad-Channel.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_Dual-Channel_RAM_Work_on_Mini_ITX_Motherboards\"><\/span>Does Dual-Channel RAM Work on Mini ITX Motherboards?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yup!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Even though <em>most<\/em> Mini ITX motherboards only have 2 RAM slots, you don\u2019t actually need the spaced slots if you\u2019re building a design with only 2 slots, to begin with<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, some Mini ITX boards are being built now with <em>4 RAM slots<\/em>, making Quad-Channel feasible (albeit fairly cramped...) in select Mini ITX HEDT builds. A Quad Channel setup on a Mini ITX board will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anandtech.com\/show\/11474\/asrocks-x299eitxac-packs-core-x-into-miniitx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">generally require smaller SO-DIMM RAM<\/a>, though.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_I_Check_If_My_RAM_Is_Running_In_Quad-Channel\"><\/span>How Do I Check If My RAM Is Running In Quad-Channel?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>You don\u2019t.<\/strong> If you have 4 sticks and 4 slots, there\u2019s no way to install your RAM where it <em>couldn\u2019t<\/em> run in Quad-Channel.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_RAM_Frequency_So_Important\"><\/span>Why is RAM Frequency So Important?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Getting the most out of your RAM means making sure that you\u2019ve configured it properly.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While it would be nice if all RAM performed as advertised out of the box without users needing to think about it, the unfortunate reality is that not all motherboards are built equally. Thus, <strong>not all motherboards are equipped to run RAM beyond the basic spec<\/strong> of its generation.<\/p>\n<p>Any DDR4 RAM that fits will work on an entry-level DDR4 motherboard, but <strong>if that high-end kit advertises numbers higher than the motherboard can handle...the motherboard wins.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For more on how <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/ram-frequency-guide\/\">DRAM Frequency<\/a> impacts your performance, consider reading over my extended guide on the topic. For now, I need to get <em>this<\/em> guide wrapped up!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>...and that\u2019s it, for now!<\/p>\n<p><strong>I hope this article helped you verify that your RAM is running in Dual-Channel if you weren\u2019t sure, and helped you correct it if it wasn\u2019t.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I covered all the angles for this scenario I could think of, and even added a few clarifications for any concerned Quad-Channel setup users out there.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Leave a <a href=\"#comment\">comment<\/a> below or head to the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">G100 Forum<\/a> if you have any other questions or concerns! You can also just hang out and share your projects with your fellow enthusiasts and professionals, should you please. Until then or until next time, be sure to enjoy your PC properly.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you check if your RAM is running in Dual-Channel, and what is Dual-Channel RAM anyway? I\u2019ll tackle these and related questions in rapid form below, so let\u2019s not waste any time diving in: What is Dual-Channel RAM? First, let\u2019s start by establishing what Dual-Channel RAM actually is. The first prerequisite is that you...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2339,"featured_media":22860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[74],"tags":[120],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22859"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2339"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22859"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25157,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22859\/revisions\/25157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}