1x8 vs 2x4 ram, which is suggested & why?

shirohokori · Mar 16, 2015

I'm building a new desktop that requires DDR4 Memory. The MB is Quad channel but works with 2/3/4 sticks of ram according to the specs and I assume a single stick alone works as well.

So my question is this:
Is there any advantage to dual channel vs single stick of ram? Example : 1x8gb vs 2x4gb ram configuration seeing how that's all I can afford for my budget with the build I'm working on currently.

And I'm assuming the same concept applies to 1x16gb ram vs 4x4gb ram config as well to whatever answer I will receive?

JimF_35 · Mar 16, 2015

2x4 uses less slots. It gives you upgradability.

TechyInAZ · Mar 16, 2015

Well there isn't an advantage since that is a quad channel motherboard.

But to answer your question, your PC will speed up if you do put 4 ram sticks in your PC. But if you put only 1, 2 or 3 it will operate in single channel mode (correct me if i'm wrong), so your system will be a little slower.

Tradesman1 · Mar 16, 2015

2 sticks a 2011 runs in dual, three in tri, 1 in single 4 in quad if put in the correct slots. So 2x4GB would be a performance increase (slight) over 1x8GB (maybe up to 10-15%)... What do you plan to do with the rig and what CPU?

JimF_35 · Mar 16, 2015

Please read...

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2010/08/26/ddr4-what-we-can-expect/2

back to my original post all it does for you is give you more space that is it.

giantbucket · Mar 16, 2015

my approach is:
laptop = 1x8 for future expansion since there's only 1-2 memory slots to work with
desktop = 2x4 to run in dual channel mode for a slight boost over single channel mode

Tradesman1 · Mar 16, 2015

From 2010?

The can you explain how they manage to run dual channel today? or Tri?

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/ASUS-X99-DELUXE-Motherboard/1877

JimF_35 · Mar 16, 2015

I stand corrected. So it support a 256 bit quad channel mode. Go for 4 dims then.

Karadjgne · Mar 16, 2015

Apart from the performance aspect, of which more physical sticks means faster performance if they are a matched set, there is always the fact of safety in numbers. You can run a pc on 4Gb of ram, maybe not great, but it'll run. If you have 2x4Gb and one stick goes bad for any reason, you still will have a working pc until you can get replacements. If you only have the 1x8Gb, and it dies, you are S. O. L. and that's even if you can diagnose the issue of dead ram vrs dead mobo vrs dead psu in any reasonable amount of time when it won't boot.

They cost about the same, and 2x sticks are better than one for any number of reasons. No brainer. And yes that also applies for 4x4 vrs 1x16, but there you'll probably find 1x16 costs more than 4x4, it also depends on what limit of ram you are looking for. Since it's a 2011, I'd use 4x8 over 2x16 for example.

Tradesman1 · Mar 17, 2015

Single 64 bit (as all sticks of DRAM are 64 bit devices), dual runs 128 bit, tri is 192 and quad 256. X99 is more a WS class mobo, which is why it has quad channel built in and aimed for higher DRAM bandwidth apps

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1x8 vs 2x4 ram, which is suggested & why?

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