Support InfoBase

Single or Dual Banks?

DIMM modules come in two different configurations, dual and single bank. Whether a module is dual bank or single bank depends on how the chips on the module are configured.

Double-sided is a physical term meaning that chips are arranged on two sides of the memory module. Dual-banked is an electrical term meaning that the module is divided electrically into two memory banks.

The amount of memory supported by a motherboard is determined by the number of banks of memory your motherboards chipset supports, most people mistakenly think it's limited by the number of modules your motherboard can hold. For example even if a motherboard has three module slots, it will not accept three dual bank modules if the chipset is limited to 4 banks of memory (three dual bank modules equals 6 banks). At most it will only accept three single bank modules (1+1+1 = 3), or one dual bank module and two single bank modules (2+1+1 = 4).

First try reading the memory installation section of your motherboard manual to find out if there is a limitation to the number of dual bank modules you can install in your motherboard. If the manual doesn't mention a limitation then there is nothing to worry about.