Dual/Triple channel RAM question

[Squires]

I'm planning on building a new PC, haven't decided yet between the i7 lynnfield or bloomfield CPU. I was pricing both builds. I was looking for RAM and know lynnfield uses dual channel and bloomfield uses triple channel. When I was looking on newegg, dual or triple channel wasn't always specified(unless I'm missing something obvious). If the channel type is not specified, will it work in either build?

[kpxgq]

theres no difference between dual and triple channel memory except when you buy it, dual comes in packs of 2 or 4 and triple comes in packs of 3 or 6

[kent1146]

I'm planning on building a new PC, haven't decided yet between the i7 lynnfield or bloomfield CPU. I was pricing both builds. I was looking for RAM and know lynnfield uses dual channel and bloomfield uses triple channel. When I was looking on newegg, dual or triple channel wasn't always specified(unless I'm missing something obvious). If the channel type is not specified, will it work in either build?

Yes, the memory will work in either build. There is no difference in the memory sticks themselves... the difference is how many you install at once. Dual-channel means you need to install memory sticks in pairs (e.g. install 2 sticks, 4 sticks, etc). Tri-channel means you install in sets of 3 (e.g. install 3 sticks at once, 6 sticks at once, etc).

[Squires]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[Nater]

Be careful with some of the cheaper, old dual channel DDR3 kits. They were designed for older intel processors that still used the front-side bus. They have much higher voltages than newer kits and could possibly damage i7/i5 CPUs.

The maximum memory voltage for i7/i5 CPUs is 1.65v, many of these kits are in the 1.7-1.9v range. However, they are fairly rare by now, but you should still be careful when buying a dual channel kit.