A field technician is inspecting a desktop workstation that is experiencing memory throughput bottlenecks. Motherboard specifications indicate that DIMM Slot 1 and Slot 2 are wired to Channel A, while DIMM Slot 3 and Slot 4 are wired to Channel B. Currently, two identical 16 GB memory modules are populated in Slot 1 and Slot 2, causing the system to operate in single-channel mode. Which of the following actions should the technician perform to enable multi-channel memory operation without purchasing extra components?
- Relocate the memory module from Slot 2 to Slot 3 to populate one module in Channel A and one module in Channel B.Answer
- BMove the memory module from Slot 1 into Slot 2 so both modules occupy consecutive positions on Channel A.
- CReplace the installed desktop modules with high-density SO-DIMM memory modules to unlock dual-channel capability.
- DRe-seat both memory modules into Slot 1 and Slot 2 while leaving Channel B completely empty.
Answer
Relocate the memory module from Slot 2 to Slot 3 to populate one module in Channel A and one module in Channel B.
Dual-channel architecture doubles potential memory bandwidth by accessing two memory modules on separate channels simultaneously. Motherboard slots are assigned to specific channels (in this scenario, Channel A = Slots 1 & 2, Channel B = Slots 3 & 4). Moving one module to Slot 3 ensures one module resides in Channel A and one in Channel B, enabling dual-channel operation without requiring new hardware.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Dual-Channel RAM Slot Population and Channel Architecture
Estimated Time:2m 0s