dual channel vs. single channel memory in Sandy bridge Pentium

[ajs_fla]

Normally I build all my computers but came across an ad for a HP tower that is very close spec wise to what I wanted to build for a wife computer. My concern is looking at the specs it says single channel memory. Everything I have built for a long time has been dual channel memory. In the Intel SNB does dual channel memory give you better performance and if so how much of a improvement. I know we are talking about a low performance machine here and not state of art but still I would pay some additional and build a tower if it is worth it.

Specs on the HP tower model HP Pavilion p6-2011 sale price at OfficeMax is $279.00 with a pentium g620 4gb memory 500 gb hdd

So do i build the computer would be used for internet email scrap book stuff and playing games like Hoyle casino. I am not palnning on recycling any of the parts from her old system (whihc is a AMD athlon ii x2 240 with a 4650 radeon card in it.


http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=5170055

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=5170055

 

[Ken g6]

If you want the computer to include a fresh copy of Windows - and a case and drives and such - it's hard to beat that price.

I'm sure single-channel will be fine for those tasks. But if you're worried, look at it this way: a replacement set of 2x2GB RAM is only $25 or so.

 

[ajs_fla]

Thanks for your reply. I agree that would be a solution BUT looking at the specs for the HP motherboard it implies that the motherboard only has single channel architcture in it. It does have 2 ddr3 slots but I think the mobo will still handle it the same way even if 2 memory modules are there. HP calls it a CARMEL2 board.

I am sure the programs that she normally runs it would be fine just prefer to extend the useful life of this computer a bit longer if dual channel.

 

[mfenn]

Is dual-channel theoretically slower than single-channel? Yes.
Does it matter one whit for this application? No.
Will it ever make a different between a usable and unusable level of performance? No.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Unless HP is getting "Special" CPUs from Intel (possible, but unlikely), then the SB Pentiums and Celerons are still dual-channel chips. The memory controller is in the CPU, not in the motherboard, like older designs. So it's highly-likely that it will run in dual-channel, should you fill both memory slots.

Edit: Unless they wired the motherboard to only connect to a single memory channel on the CPU. Again, possible, but unlikely.