Should I use all the slots?

[huntrik]

Hey guys, question about memory slots. If I have 4x slots do I want to use them all? I building a new gaming rig and got flamed about 32GB of RAM and was told I only really need 8GB. Here is the board Im going to get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821 ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard


Do I want to use a 4x2GB config to fill all the slots?

Side question...dual channel vs quad and hex. I noticed the MB Im getting is dual channel. Should I find one that is quad or higher or is there not much of a difference?

Thanks,

Hunt

 

[nikorr]

Its dual channel.

Do u do other things than games and the net?

Than get 16GB

RAM is cheap, so get 16GB anyway.

 

[nikorr]

I recommend CORSAIR Vengeance 99% of the time, quality RAM and low profile with XMP profile.
And if u will get an aftermarket CPU cooler, low profile is the worry free remedy with perfect fit with any large cooler.
CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233198
Vengeance Low Profile heat spreaders have a reduced height of 1.03" (26.25mm). They're designed for high-performance systems with extra-large CPU coolers, small form factor system builds, or any other space-constrained application where standard Vengeance memory might not fit.

 

[nikorr]

BTW, do u have x64bit windows?

 

[unksol]

there are only dual, triple, and quad channel memory controllers on common CPUs as far as I am aware. Again. The controller is on the CPU, so changing the board does nothing, you have to switch sockets/CPUs to something like sandy bridge-e to change that. And no it doesn't really matter.

You always want to fill all the channels of the controller, so for you with a dual channel controller you want to use 2x4GB for two reasons. you take a slight hit in timings using all 4, and if you ever needed to upgrade you have to replace it all instead of just adding to it.

8GB is plenty for gaming. I run 8 with the page file off and a bunch of background stuff and browsers up and can alt tab out of any game and back instantly. You could go 16 if you really want but it's really not going to be used by anything right now, better to spend money elsewhere. 32 is just wasted money unless its for a specially program. Think VMs, servers, professional.applications etc

 

[huntrik]

I will be running W7 64 ult. I have been partial to G.Skill in my past builds. I will start buying parts in about 3-5 days when I redeploy back to the states from Afghanistan. I have just been doing some last minute research. I had thought about going with the "I have the largest e-peen" build but I decided on fast and practical. Here is what I have decided on so far (at least I think)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225 COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821 ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130797 EVGA Superclocked, Signature 2 02G-P4-2687-KR GeForce GTX 680 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139025 CORSAIR Gaming Series GS800 800W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC High Performance Power ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504 Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147135 SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Desktop Upgrade Kit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018 Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler

 

[nikorr]

All u need is quality 500W PSU.

This one is just fine.

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply


was: $124.99
$89.99

FREE SHIPPING

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

 

[huntrik]

This is from the details page on the GPU: "System RequirementsMinimum of a 550 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 38 Amps.)"

I thought I would go higher in case I wanted to SLI later...just a thought

 

[nikorr]

All looks great.

I would pick for recommendation few of those myself : )

 

[nikorr]

This is from the details page on the GPU: "System RequirementsMinimum of a 550 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 38 Amps.)"

I thought I would go higher in case I wanted to SLI later...just a thought

Yes, if u will go SLI, than yes. Absolutely.

 

[huntrik]

What do you think about the CORSAIR H100 (CWCH100) Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181017 as opposed to the Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

I do plan on Overclocking

 

[huntrik]

Here is the RAM I am probably going to go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416 G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop

 

[nikorr]

I'd say, you do : )

Noctua is the way. Better temps in high OC with less noise.

 

[nikorr]

Get this one instead.

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL11D-8GBSR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231519

 

[nikorr]

The i5-3570K Ivy Bridge gets hotter than the Sandy Bridge.

Get this kit and be done : )
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/12222/ex-wat-162/XSPC_Rasa_750_RS360_Universal_CPU_Triple_Radiator_Water_Cooling_Kit_Hot_Item.html

 

[nikorr]

Watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=C3i9EV3P9gQ

 

[huntrik]

Actually will probably go this route http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231534 G.SKILL Sniper Gaming Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

I have been thinking about water cooling...

 

[unksol]

I'd take a 670 or 7970 over the 680. The small performance difference isn't really worth $100 to me. But that's a personal choice. Really not a lot of room to improve on what you picked. I would suggest a modular PSU though

 

[nikorr]

Why not -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231510

With fast PC like yours, u can add these for bit more speed.

 

[huntrik]

Because I was flamed before for suggesting anything over 1600, I was told it was a complete waste of money...

 

[huntrik]

I'd take a 670 or 7970 over the 680. The small performance difference isn't really worth $100 to me. But that's a personal choice. Really not a lot of room to improve on what you picked. I would suggest a modular PSU though

Im seriously thinking of SLI with 2x 670's

 

[nikorr]

"I have been thinking about water cooling.."

Why not.

And you can add a water block to the loop for the GPU and run cool and "quiet",

u cannot add anything in the H100.

 

[nikorr]

Because I was flamed before for suggesting anything over 1600, I was told it was a complete waste of money...

I know, people tend to advice on 8GB because they have no idea

how to use RAM more effectively.

Once they use the RAM disc and learn to use that, they would change mind.

 

[nikorr]

BTW, I would go with SLI gtx670 as well.

Or this?

 

[nikorr]

Nice SLI 3SLI review
http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-670-2-and-3way-sli-review/15