SOLVED ram confusion: 1066 v. 1600? dual or triple channel?

Hey all!

Quick (I think) newbie questions.

I'm looking to upgrade my RAM in prep for overclocking. Here's my current setup:

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz, Bloomfield Socket 1366 LGA, stock cooling
Mobo: ASUSTeK P6T Deluxe (Chipset: Intel X58)
Ram: 12GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 6 x 2048MB

I'm considering (based on nifty feedback from wiser folks than I) replacing the current RAM set with 1600MHz, specifically these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186

Now my two newbie questions:
1. Is going from 12GB (which is probably overkill?) 1066 to 8GB 1600 an "upgrade"? I'm a bit confused about why, if yes...
2. There's dual channel and triple channel. Are mobos restricted to one or the other (i.e., can my mobo even use the kind I'm considering buying)? If not, is one type preferred?

Regardless of your answers, thanks for your time/help!
squirrels

Since your system has tripple channel memory you may as well take advantage of it. If you upgrade you should look for 3x4gb 1600 cl 8 set.

The biggest performance to cost upgrade you have avalible right now though would be to get a better heatsink and OC your chip.

Doing both should net you a very nice performance boost.

ssjwizard said:

Since your system has tripple channel memory you may as well take advantage of it. If you upgrade you should look for 3x4gb 1600 cl 8 set.

The biggest performance to cost upgrade you have avalible right now though would be to get a better heatsink and OC your chip.

Doing both should net you a very nice performance boost.

Click to expand...

Confirmed and thanks for the suggestions!

I'm looking at this set now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231358

They're CL 9 but about 100.00 less than the CL 8 seems to make them a better value.

Hmm. Let me rephrase my question above slightly.

Which would be the better performer in my mobo? And would the performance difference be enough that an avid gamer would notice?

8gb 1600MHz C9, dual channel kit (e.g., http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186)

12gb 1600MHz C9, triple channel kit (e.g., http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231358)

I ask both out of curiosity (still trying to understand how RAM works) and to guide upgrade purchases.

(in addition to the above, I'm updating my GPU, buying a better cooler for my CPU, and overclocking both)

Triple channel is preferred. It's an easy feature to take advantage of that the X58 platform has.

IMO you shouldn't need more then 6GB, but RAM is so dirt cheap, so why the hell not?