Dual Channel Memory: What Is It, and How Does It Work?

Computers rely on the memory space to process and store the information that you input into their systems. As such, your computer requires to have the appropriate memory modules attuned to the capacity and specifications of the processor.

The motherboard comes with either a single-channel memory or a dual-channel memory that facilitates data movement. Whichever memory chip you have installed; the channels are crucial in initiating the necessary Random Access Memory (RAM) to read the active or running programs or applications on your computer.

What is Dual Channel Memory?

Dual-channel memory is one of the versions of multi-channel memory. Like the other versions, it plays a crucial role in increasing the speed of data transfer. It helps boost the communication channels between the memory and the memory controller.

In other words, it's not the memory you buy that's dual-channel, rather it's when you have two matching memory sticks. The motherboard uses both of them to run in dual channel mode. Each memory location splits across the pair to double the memory speed instead of being in one or the other. As such, only one is in use at any one time.

Most motherboards only support the dual channel, and older ones only support single-channel memory. However, LGA 1366 Core i7 has a triple channel mode, while the LGA 2011 processors can support quad-channel mode.

How Does Dual Channel Memory Work?

The RAM on the memory module and the rest of the computer communicate through the memory controller on the central processing unit (CPU). Some memory controllers feature multiple communication channels with the memory module, which enables faster data exchange. With such settings, data can move faster along channels as it moves through more than one channel.

Some memory channels are designed with one channel, while others have two (dual), four (quad), six, and eight. The six and eight-channel modules are best for servers.

A few motherboards run on triple-channel modules, which use interleaving. This is a method used in assigning memory addresses to the memory in a set order.

The original design of the dual-channel architecture combines two 64-bit buses into a single 128-bit bus. This combination was also known as the ganged model. However, the performance was not good enough, and manufacturers later discovered that independent buses had better performance. Currently, the un-ganged model is the most common on most modern processors.

The dual-channel memory operates by initiating one of two modes. These are the mirroring and the sparing modes.

Mirroring Mode

The mirroring mode enables your device to complete memory usage by reducing the RAM capacity in half. The Dual in-line Memory Modules (DIMM) are distinct, and they receive the same data through the channel memory you provide for them. As such, when one of the channels fails, the memory controller utilizes the other channel.

Take note that:

• The mirroring mode decreases your system's total memory capacity. For example, when you enable the module, a server with 64 GB capacity reduces into 32 GB usable memory.
• The DIMMs in each channel must have the same density and be equal in size and architecture for the mode to work.
• Mirroring happens across DIMMs. As such, if your two channels both have DIMMs, they will have both a primary and secondary cache.

Sparing Mode

You can also opt to use the sparing mode in dual-channel memory configuration. When in saving mode, one of the ranks serves as a spare for the other channels within the channel. The specific rank is inactive when an active rank fails to work. If failure happens in another rank, the idle rank takes over the operation. Its memory capacity is then subtracted from the overall memory capacity of the entire channel.

When an error happens, and the threshold is achieved, the failing circuit's data is replicated in the spare and previously idle rank. The failed rank goes offline, leaving the activated one to take over.

The entire process requires data replication. As such, only a lower level of redundant memory is involved than in the mirroring mode. For critical data processes, the mirroring mode is the preferable option. Also, note that:

• The spare rank in the sparing mode must have an equal or higher memory capacity than those within the channel.
• In the sparing mode, one rank per channel acts as a spare. Hence, when you configure a dual-channel memory, two ranks serve as spares for each of the channels.

Dual Channel Memory Installation Tips

If you want to take advantage of a dual-channel platform, ensure you buy memory in identical parts when purchasing memory. For example, if you wish to upgrade your processor to 2 GB of memory, go for two 1 GB memory sticks with similar specifications. The speed chips on each memory don't need to be the same as the others. However, it helps to use memory sticks with similar speeds. If the speeds don't match, your motherboard will run both chips at the slowest speed between the two chips.

Furthermore, if you want to install two memory modules, ensure each is installed into the proper memory slot. In most cases, the memory slots will have different colors to guide you to the correct memory channel. For the first memory stick, the correct slots are often the first and the second. For the second one, they are usually the third and fourth. As you install memory in pairs, ensure you install them into the same colored slot. This will help you take advantage of the dual-channel module.

How to Know If Dual-Channel Is Active

When your dual-channel becomes active, your initial screen that appears after you reboot your machine should display "Dual Channel Interleaved" or "Dual Channel." Alternatively, if you have software programs like CPU-Z, it should detect and automatically display this information.

Final Thoughts

Most modern computer innovations have complicated configurations. This gives rise to the need for larger memory spaces for faster data processing. Luckily, you can easily configure your computer for dual-channel communication, increasing its speed and performance.

However, sometimes this may sound easier said than done, especially if you are not tech-savvy. If you'd like to upgrade the memory of your company computers for better data processing, let an expert help you. Coleman Technologies provides IT support and services to businesses in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Contact us today, and let us discuss how we can improve your entire IT department.