Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

4*2gb or 2*4gb dual channel

Tags:
  • Memory
  • Dual Channel
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Memory
Share
August 2, 2014 5:06:53 AM

Hello there

My brother wants to make gopro movies on our family pc and we need more RAM.
CPU: i5 2500K
Motherboard: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8P67/
Memory: http://www.corsair.com/en/cmx4gx3m2a1600c9

It would be cheaper adding the same type of memory but my motherboard uses dual channel so my question is: Does adding 4 extra gb in dual channel, all 4 slots taken, improve the performance of the pc. I'm a gamer so i also want to know if games will run better.

Thanks in advance!

More about : 2gb 4gb dual channel

a b } Memory
a b V Motherboard
August 2, 2014 5:11:06 AM

Buying and installing a new (2 x 4 GB) kit will definitely run in dual-channel because they're made as two-sticks and tested to guarantee dual-channel performance.. Adding another 4 GB stick to the old module DOES NOT GUARANTEE dual channel..
Yes, dual channel improves performance from 5-10%..
m
1
l
a b } Memory
a c 94 V Motherboard
August 2, 2014 5:15:58 AM

In theory, having 4x2GB gives the memory controller twice as many open memory rows to work with, which should allow more efficient use of the memory bus but in practice, that makes almost no difference.

Going from 4GB to 8GB on the other hand should help smooth things out regardless of what memory slot configuration you pick.
m
1
l
Related resources
August 2, 2014 5:18:12 AM

Maybe a stupid question but if i have 2 gb in slot 2 and 4 (4gb) and 4gb in slot 1 and 3 (8gb), will that be a problem? Long time ago since i build my pc and some things i don't remember anymore about RAM.
Question number 2: so if i add the same kind of RAM, does it have the same effect as replacing my current RAM with 2*4GB?
m
0
l
a b } Memory
a b V Motherboard
August 2, 2014 5:18:48 AM

This is how dual channel has more data wires (D01, D02, etc in the image) to get accessed by the CPU.. The dual-channel has double times the data wires as a single channel module..
Single Channel:

Dual Channel:
m
0
l
August 2, 2014 5:20:23 AM

There is no difference between 2 x 4gb or 4 x 2gb. As long as the memory is running in at least dual channel mode, you'll be getting the best performance for the modules you'll be using. As for future proofing your system, it's better to get 2 x 4gb, since that leaves 2 slots free should you decide to up it to 16gb.
m
1
l
a c 2285 } Memory
a c 1798 V Motherboard
August 2, 2014 6:56:28 PM

2x4GB is less stress on the MC (memory controller) and can be ever so slightly faste as there are lesss pipes to play with
m
0
l
!