This isn’t the case for 32-bit windows (at least for the desktop variants – could be different for server versions). 32-bit XP, Vista, and 7 can only address a maximum of 4 gigabytes, and in practice even less than that. Part of that addressing space is used for the video memory, as well as a few other odds and ends, so in practice 32-bit windows won’t use more than 3 or 3.5 gigs, depending on the system. Here’s a good (if excessively lengthy…) explanation on that limit. 64-bit windows 7 can access up to 192 gigs of RAM.
Also, the performance advantage of dual or triple channel RAM is pretty negligable. For just about every normal task (normal office use, multitasking, video encoding, gaming, photoshop work) triple channel memory gives a negligable performance increase. I’m sure there’s some odd memory-bandwidth intensive task out there that would really benefit, but otherwise there’s no reason to go out of the way to get it.
I thought PAE could theoretically get Windows 32-bit past the 4GB limit but it is a kludgy hack and software has to be written to make use of it (which the vast majority isn’t).
So, while kinda sorta technically possible there is really no point. You could attach a jet engine to a Volkswagen Beetle to make it go fast but that does not make it useful or a good idea.
Agreed here. Back when attaching jet engines to your VW beetle was your only option, it made sense to use it. But since the advent of 64-bit OS and the elimination of most compatibility problems, it makes no sense to do it this way.
Yes, but it still limits normally written 32 bit applications to a max of 4 GB address space, and AFAIK under windows, that limit is 3 Gb per process (on Linux you should be able to use the full 4 GB). You can still install and use more RAM, but not in one process.
As to the OP: I’m running some systems with 16, 32 and 64 GB RAM (all on 64-bit systems). If there really is a multiple-of-3 rule, I’ve never heard of it, and I’ve never even seen multiple-of-3 GB RAM cards.
I don’t know why people seem to be posting without reading earlier posts. The correct answer has been posted several times now:
Dual-channel memory controllers (DDR2) can access memory in single or pairs of module (some motherboards may not accept a single memory module, but that’s the exception rather than the rule).
Triple-channel memory controllers (DDR3) can [generally] access memory in single, pairs or triplets of modules. The post-Duo Intel chips (i3, i5 and i7) processors have built in memory controllers. The i7-9xx series processors have DD3 controllers, while the rest (IIRC) all have DDR2 controllers (my i7-860 home machine only supports DDR2, for instance).
As others have also said, benchmarks seem to agree that the improved performance of DDR3 is minute over a similar amount of DD2 memory when used in the same machine.
Yes. Both Windows 7 Home Premium(which is what originally came on this PC) and Windows 7 Professional (which I later upgraded to so that I could add Windows Virtual PC and a Windows XP mode session) are 64-bit OS’s.