003243,
When building a system, you will learn a lot by visiting the website of the main components. For example, if I visit the Gigabyte site and look up the specification of the GA H61M DS2 >
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4197#sp
> The memory is listed as >
"2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
* Due to Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than 4 GB.
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 2200(OC)/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules
Support for non-ECC memory modules
Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules
* To support XMP memory, you must install an Intel 22nm (Ivy Bridge) CPU.
(Please refer "Memory Support List" for more information.)"
> so, already you can see that there are two DIMM sockets so the 4 X 2GB is not going to work. To have 8GB of RAM you should use 2 X 4GB and as the motherboard and i5 CPU support up to 1333MHz, if the budget allows, I would suggests using the fastest
native speed. The "2200(OC)" refers to overclocked memory that may cost a lot more without substantial- noticeable- benefit.
Also, see the last line in parentheses "(Please refer "Memory Support List" for more information.)" which refers to a list that every motherboard maker has on their site listing by size of module, speed, brand, and model the memory that the company has tested as compatible with the particular motherboard. It is best to choose from that list to avoid problems.
I don't mean to throw a wrench into your project, but one thing that memory specifications for motherboards tell you is how new the design is. If a motherboard can use very fast RAM, it's likely to be a newer design. For example >
ASUS H61M-E LGA 1155 Intel H61 (B3) Micro ATX Intel Motherboard > $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131967
Is about the same price as the Gigabyte, but can use DDR3 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz speed RAM. the fact that it uses 1600 native speed may well mean it's a newer design. Od course as the CPU only supports up to 1333 means it's not worth using RAM faster than that. This motherboard also has a UEFI BIOS- also a modern and higher performance feature that allows easy overclocking of the CPU's that allow it.
On the subject of the CPU, is there a reason you chose a CPU from 2009?
Again, not to open a can of worms as you asked only about the RAM, but I think you could have a much higher performing system for your $1000 > Here an idea >
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CPU > Intel Core i7-4770 Haswell 3.4/ 3.9GHz LGA 1150 84W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics BX80646I74770 > $301 ( A modern CPU at a higher clock speed. i7 is hyperthreading, whereas the i5 is not) ( For about $20 more you could have the "K" version which can overclocked to a higher speed. this would need a higher performance fan/heatsink to cool it- about +$40)
http://ark.intel.com/products/75122/Intel-Core-i7-4770-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz?q=i7-4770
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i7-4770-Quad-Core-Processor-BX80646I74770/dp/B00CO8TBNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392176861&sr=8-1&keywords=i7-4770
CPU Cooler > Stock, supplied with CPU
Motherboard > ASUS Z87-K LGA 1150 Intel Z87 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS > $116 (the Z87 is among the fastest chipsets for the LGS1150, has 4 RAM sockets and many more PCIe slots than the Gigabyte. An alternative for a bit less money would be the ASRock Z87 PRO3 for $95)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131983
RAM > 16GB (2 X 8GB) of low CAS latency (9) 1600 speed. This would fill two of the four sockets and allow adding two more modules later to have the full 32GB.> about $150 (Check motherboard compatibility list) (If there is a cost problem, substitute 2 X 4GB for -$60.
Video Card > GIGABYTE GV-N65TOC-1GI GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card > $130 ( The "ti" version has a faster clock and 768 CUDA cores)
Hard Drive > Western Digital WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive, Blue - OEM $60 (Quite fast for a mechanical drive, using a single 1TB platter)
Power Supply > SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply > $60 ( A bit more powerful than necessary, but not extremely so. Seasonic and Corsair have among the best reputations)
DVD Burner > ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM > $20
Case > My taste in computer cases is very conservative. Go to Newegg.com and find a mid tower case that you think is exciting-looking for about $60.
Operating System > Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit - OEM > $100
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TOTAL = $997
I hope I added it correctly!
One other approach> If this system is really used for music production only- no 3D, you may delete the video card (-$130) and use the integrated HD4600 graphics. The performance in 2D is outstanding and it would still play videos adequately. the savings could then be applied to an SSD or you could have a 500GB drive for the OS and programs and a 2TB for files. An SSD is always tempting, but in a music system an SSD is only a help if it's a big one that can load very large files quickly.
Of course, there's no music interface in this list. If the soundcard / interface has to be included in the $1,000, I'd suggest something quite different for the computer based on the AMD FX 8350.
Just a thought. Good luck on your project,
Cheers,
BambiBoom
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My sound recording computer > HP Elite M9426F (2009) Core2 Quad Q6600 a2.4GHz> 8GB 1066 RAM > ATI Radeon 6450 1GB > Seagate Barracuda 750GB > EMU 0404 24 /96, MIDI soundcard > Win 7 64 Ultimate > Cakewalk Sonar X3 , Hauptwerk 4, Garritan Steinway D. > I use a Yamaha S90 synthesizer by MIDI or record a Kawai KG5D grand, Zuckermann Flemish single harpsichord, or Zuckermann fretted clavichord through 2X Oktava M012 microphones to a Peavey VMP2 vacuum tube mic pre. Monitoring is by Sennheiser HD280 pro headphones. As I rarely do anything more than 2-tracks, this system is still quite adequate.
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