Originally posted by: Absolution75
	
	
		
		
			Originally posted by: EliteRetard
Were right in the middle of the transition from 32bit to 64bit, but most households still use 32bit and therfore cant use a full 4GB, you either waste or get a meager 2GB. Tripple channel solves this and doesnt kill your performance. For enthusiasts, whether on 32bit or 64bit are becoming limited with only 3-4GB of memory. With dual channel there is no good upgrade option. 4GB dimms are insanely expensive and adding 4 dims hurts performance and overclocking. Tripple channel solves this.
On lower cost boards you could use three dimm slots instead of 4 to reduce space and cost. And the 3-6GB is perfect for most users. 
I see tripple channel as far superior in every case and scenario, and even if it doesnt provide a performance boost now its available for the future.
Even if we move to quad channel, I stilll see tripple channel being more usefull for quite some time. I really dont like that intel is chopping it off the lower end "i" series...thats where its a perfect match. 3GB is the perfect amout for most people and for low cost machines. Itd be perfect for AMD right now, their chips fit the low end segment very well.
		
		
	 
You miss the part that tripple channel is more expensive and a more enthusiast based technology. In fact, it really is only useful in certain server environments (nehalem may as well be a server chip).
If your an enthusiast, you're not running xp 32bit - you'll be running vista x64 or win 7 x64.
People who buy x58 boards will not be running xp x86.
Running 4 dimms doesn't hurt performance - though it does indeed hurt extreme overclocks (extreme overclockers will probably be buying tripple x58 though, so who cares?).
3GB isn't enough. 4GB is sometimes not even though. I'd recommend at least 6-8GB for most new builds.
Tripple channel doesn't fit low end segments because it is inherantly more expensive.
		
 
		
	 
+1 to this post...
EliteRetard, of course I read your post. I just disagree with all your preconceptions about the subject. That is why I draw different conclusions.
The vast majority of users have a 32bit OS because they have yet to purchase a new OS since windows XP (where they actually get to chose 32bit vs 64bit for identical price) or they are ignorant (willingly choosing 32bit for same price).
Not you particularly, but the average buyer knows little... there are certainly legitimate reasons to run 32bit over 64bit. But those are extremely rare and it is usually due to believing in FUD or not knowing any better
I actually haven't used 32bit OS in nearly 5 years.
the whole ram thing is a strawman argument, with the majority of benefits coming from extra registers in the CPU and resulting in up to 5x performance. Although realistically, I benchmarked 7z compression being 27% faster and I saw some professional benches of hash calcs being 3x to 4x the speed, some types of video encoding was 60% faster, and things like ZFS should not even be bothered with in 32bit mode. And some programs and games are 0% faster though.
Even then, there is no real benefit to 32bit. Compatibility is no longer an issue, and actually can be used as a protection (older malware no longer compatible).
As far as 3GB in dual channel being "complicated"... what's complicated about it? and what performance loss?
you stick the ram in the slots and it works... I just put a 2x2GB pair alongside 2x512MB pair for my brother for 5GB. It works and ramspeed is identical to before. It just worked. 2x1GB +1GB MIGHT be more complicated (I Wouldn't know, I didn't try it), but I am inclined to think it is as simple as what I did do, and even if not, so what? and still not a big performance issue.
A serious overclocker is just gonna use 2x2GB and "waste" 700MB of ram... that is assuming a hardcore overclocker is even using 32bit. Considering that 2x512MB is too cheap to be worth shipping on ebay (and maybe 2x1GB too), while 2x2GB is under 50$.
4GB dimms are indeed expensive @ 170$ per dimm... but you can easily get 8GB by running 4x2GB while still being an "enthusiast". I don't see why having more than one ram kit automatically disqualifies you from being "enthusiast".. I assure you I had no problems overclocking with 4x2GB of DDR2.
The argument that running 3x2GB on tri chanel while leaving the other 3 slots free is the only "proper" way to get more than 4GB of ram makes no sense... and also contradicts your own point about 32bit being king.
	
	
		
		
			Im a gamer, and I prefer value. If I find that 4GB is a limit...my only real options are high end and expensive. Whats the cure for this, simply add a channel and add another 2GB. Efficient, effective, and possibly higher performing. And it could be done for a lower cost than the 8GB options. Mainstream boards could come with three instead of four DIMM slots saving space and money. On the low end (sub 75$ CPUs, small devices like netbooks etc) dual channel and boards with 2 slots are acceptable. Even for higher end rigs the 3 slots would still be fine, 6GB is a nice sweet spot at this time and will remain so for some time. The extreme users that need more than 6GB can get the 200$ MOBOs with 6 slots.
		
		
	 
Are you actually suggesting that people should use 2x2GB on a tri chanel system... in dual chanel, so that when they need to they can buy another single 2GB module to upgrade into tri chanel (with mismatched sticks)? or are you suddenly for 2x2 + 2GB dual + single chanel?