8 or 4 gigs?

TheMaristBoy

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Yup, it's me again

How much should I get for an Intel i7 2600k? I have two options:
a. Plain PQI 8gb RAM (4x 2gb) worth 2,400 Php
or
b. Kingston Hyper X 4gb Genesis (1600C9D3X2K2/4G) worth 1,800 Php

I'm doing mostly gaming BUT I also do a lot of video editing and rendering. That's why I went went with a 2600k and not a 2500k

Thanks! :D
 
Solution
Sandy Bridge is good for 1.25v~1.50v, 1.65v can run but it's not advised. Again, with your CPU DDR3 1600 CAS 8/9 2x4GB @ 1.50v is the best performer.
Ideally the 'best' choice is a 2x4GB Kit, the costs of the 8GB kits is relatively low now. Anything >4GB requires a 64-bit OS. Buying 1x4GB, non-kits, is not a good idea and it's best to buy matched 'Kits' that are 1.50v. I have no experience with PQI. Further, DDR3 1600 CAS 8/9 is the 'sweet spot' for the Sandy Bridge and gaming.

Gaming does show an improvement with 8GB -> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-memory-upgrade,2778-8.html
RAM and Sandy Bridge article -> http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2011/01/11/the-best-memory-for-sandy-bridge/1

The Kingston 1600C9D3X2K2/4G is a 1.65v 2x2GB kit and I wouldn't recommend them because of the DIMM voltage.

Here's a link with some of my picks for 2x4GB -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006069%20600006127%20600000261&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=147|20-226-191^20-226-191-TS%2C20-145-345^20-145-345-TS%2C20-231-445^20-231-445-TS%2C20-231-428^20-231-428-TS they may or not be available in your area, but they're all DDR3 1600 2x4GB @ 1.50v so look for similar specifications.
 

TheMaristBoy

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So, are generic RAMs with no heatsinks a bad idea? I'm referring to the PQI. If a RAM doesn't have a heatsink and is used intensively, will it catastrophically fail? Let's say, blow up? serious question :ange:
 
It depends upon the Frequency, Load, Density, Number of DIMMs used, and Voltage. If you're running DDR3 1600 MHz 2x4GB it's hotter than 2x2GB whereas similar DDR3 1333 MHz is cooler.

In gaming, hours at a time, DDR3 1600 MHz 2x4GB 'should' have cooling fins, DDR3 1600 MHz 4x4GB you're asking for problems without cooling fins gaming - 4x2GB will get very warm. IF you OC the i7-2600K then IMO yes the fins are strongly recommend in DDR3 1600 MHz 4x2GB.

Do you have a link to the 'Plain PQI 8gb RAM (4x 2gb)'?
 

TheMaristBoy

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Do you have a link to the 'Plain PQI 8gb RAM (4x 2gb)'?

unfortuantely no, all the info the pricelist says is that its DDR3 and 1333. Btw, would a RAM with different voltage than 1.5v not work with Z68? Does it have to be specifically 1.5v, no more no less? sorry, I'm a total noob when it goes deeper into RAM info. :sweat:
 

TheMaristBoy

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How's this? G. Skill Ripjaws X F3-12800CLD-8GBXL. Its a 2x 4gb kit so 8gb in total and its says its recomended for the Sandybridge platform but I don't know if it's true.