All Core i7 Models
In the past, Intel processors used an external memory controller located in the north bridge chip (also known as Memory Controller Hub, MCH). This means that with CPUs using this older architecture, the chipset (and therefore, the motherboard) is the component that sets the type and amount of memory you can install in the computer. With the Core i processor line, the memory controller is embedded in the CPU, and it is the processor (and not the chipset) that sets the memory type and amount you may have installed in your system. The motherboard, however, may have a limitation on the amount of memory you can install.
The memory controller integrated in the Core i7 accepts only DDR3 memories, supporting the now standard dual-channel (triple-channel on socket 1366 models) architecture up to 1.6 V. Memory modules which require voltages higher than this will not work and may even damage the processor. The speeds supported will depend on the CPU model, as we will present in the next pages.
Socket 1366 models use a triple-channel memory architecture, meaning that they access three memory modules at the same time. So, with these CPUs, you must install at least three memory modules in order to reach the maximum performance they can provide. This architecture provides a 50% bandwidth increase compared to the dual-channel architecture. For example, DDR3-1066 memories working in dual channel mode have a maximum theoretical transfer rate of 17 GB/s, while if working in triple channel they have a maximum theoretical transfer rate of 25.5 GB/s.
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