Dual Channel to Triple Channel memeory

[MiRai]

Memory is sold in those triple/dual channel kits for a reason. You can't just throw another single stick in there and expect it to work. If you're trying to save on cash you should be able to use your existing dual channel memory though and it will still work in the triple channel board...you'd just sorta be gimping the setup.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Memory is sold in those triple/dual channel kits for a reason. You can't just throw another single stick in there and expect it to work. If you're trying to save on cash you should be able to use your existing dual channel memory though and it will still work in the triple channel board...you'd just sorta be gimping the setup.

To clarify the above, the memory is sold in kits to reduce product returns/refunds due to mismatched speeds/timings/etc. On 3 otherwise functionally stable 2GB sticks, as long as they have the same rating and timing specs, they should work fine. I do it all the time for a major PC OEM and the only problems I've seen are when sticks are either cheap Chinese knockoff crap, early proto hardware or mismatched speeds. NOTE: just because two sticks say PC3-8500 does NOT mean they're set up for the same timings. The least common denominator principle generally applies.

You should already know where those options exist in BIOS and have a BIOS that can tweak them if you're going to attempt this. If you don't already know where to look up the specs and how to tweak the BIOS, you're just asking for headaches and problems.