Quick question for the techies out there who read this blog. With dual channel memory modes on motherboards, do you lose the advantage this mode brings if you have 3 sticks of memory instead of two?
To clarify a little, if your motherboard supports it, and you have two similar (preferably identical) sticks of RAM, dual channel access will speed up your computer a little. If you then add a third stick, will the first two no longer be accessed in dual channel mode, or will you end up with sticks 1 & 2 in dual channel mode, with only the 3rd (and fourth if you have the slot and stick) accessed normally?
Also, as XP has problems with 4Gb of RAM, my mother in law has 3Gb installed. Right now that is plenty for her needs, but when it comes to the time for an upgrade to Vista, what makes more sense? More memory or should 3 be enough?