Triple-channel memory kits vs dual-channel on P55 platform

We see if Triple or Dual channel memory is faster on Intel's P55 platform.

If you've ever read our Kitlog emag, or indeed the section in the magazine, you might have seen a triple-channel memory kit listed alongside a P55-based motherboard.

Now regardless of the motherboard/CPU performance, there were some that cried afoul of this pairing - since technically the P55 platform is limited to only a dual-channel hardware interface.

We've not had much time to do anything to allay their fears for a while, but the time has finally come to throw down some hard numbers and (hopefully) sort this out once and for all.

The main components of our test rig are as follows:

• Intel Core i7 870 @ 2926MHz (Turbo, speedstep, C1E disabled)
• EVGA P55 SLI
• OCZ Blade Triple DDR3 kit @ 7-7-7-20 1T, 1600MHz

With these specs in mind, we threw in our sticks, and got to comparing the two different setups - one with only two sticks, and one with all three. Will performance be crippled with the addition of a third stick? Will it change at all? Will the world end?

Read on to find out!