What Is Dual-Channel Memory (RAM)?
RAM (Random Access Memory) is a key component of any computer, but there’s more to it than capacity or speed. Dual-channel memory offers a significant boost in memory bandwidth, but why is that important? If you’re curious about memory channels, especially because you want to build or upgrade a PC, we’ll explain all the most important things you need to know about this memory feature and how you can make sure you get the most out of your RAM. Understanding Memory Channels A memory “channel” is a dedicated, physical connection between a RAM module and a CPU. Specifically, it’s a connection to the memory controller integrated into the CPU. The integration of memory controllers into both Intel and AMD CPUs was a big deal, whereas before the memory controller resided on the motherboard. Data is moved along this dedicated channel to and from RAM by the CPU. The channel has a maximum amount of data that can be moved at once, which is what bandwidth is. The CPU’s memory controller al