2x4gb + 1x8gb VS 4x4gb | DDR3 1333Mhz Gaming Laptop

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Yaj8552

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Sep 23, 2014
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So I already know that it's better to do 2x8 for memory rather than 4x4 to get 16gb RAM.

However I am making a new laptop and have 2x4gb from my old laptop.So I was wondering should I just go and buy another 8gb or buy 2 4gb? My new laptop has 4 slots and can go up to 32gb but I know Windows 7 Home Premium can only handle 16gb (plus I feel like 32 gb is overkill right now anyways [some would probably argue 16gb is overkill])

My thought was having 4x4gb, the laptop kinda has 4 same pieces of hardware to work with but then if there are 2x4gb +1x8gb my laptop might have to work harder with this weird sore thumb piece of hardware.
But then it's always better to go with less pieces of hardware with RAM and I think it would probably take up less voltage too right? Since only 3 1.5V rather than 4?

Thank's in advance!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
4x4GB will provide full dual channel mode depending on the laptop adding a 8GB stick if it goes in say Channel B and the 2 4GB sticks are in Channel A and the rig supports flex mode would put all in dual channel also.

As far as the above saying it's a waste to have 16GB, there are many, many who commonly use in excess of 16GB at any given time, I often am up at 24GB in use, depends on the individual and what they do
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IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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May 1, 2013
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First you want to make sure the laptop has four RAM slots, most of them only have two.

Normally on a desktop I would always say you want four of a kind is better. One 8GB stick of RAM isn't really any better than one 4GB stick of RAM except that it holds more storage, and once you pass 8GB you get very little use out of the RAM past that point.

Though it is a good point you mention that the total power usage would go down, I still think you are best to just stay with 8GB. I have 16GB in my desktop and I run monitors to watch my RAM usage 24/7 and it never goes past about 6000MB, so its really just a waste to have more.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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4x4GB will provide full dual channel mode depending on the laptop adding a 8GB stick if it goes in say Channel B and the 2 4GB sticks are in Channel A and the rig supports flex mode would put all in dual channel also.

As far as the above saying it's a waste to have 16GB, there are many, many who commonly use in excess of 16GB at any given time, I often am up at 24GB in use, depends on the individual and what they do
 
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Solution
IInuyasha74

IInuyasha74

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May 1, 2013
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Well thats true its possible to use that much, for the average user they never will. Only if you are doing a really heavy amount of work, or running a lot of VMs will you run up that high. Just playing a game with several basic bakground applications like skype, two web browsers, about 20 tabs, a video open in the background paused, word documents, monitoring programs, and then just general basic small stuff from Windows and drivers you typically won't. At least on the three or four computers I have checked this on, that has been the case.
 
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Yaj8552

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Sep 23, 2014
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Thank's both of you! I'll probably be a slightly above average user but not too crazy. I'll have another monitor and keep a monitor going to see how much RAM I use to see if the upgrade would be worth it.

And thank you Tradesman1 that is exactly what I was looking for. Researched Flex Mode a bit more and it answered my questions. Thanks!
I might just go with the 2x4gb + 1x8gb since it will potentially cost less voltage. Right?
 
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