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    Which RAM setup is better?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by siang_rd, Nov 21, 2011.

  1. siang_rd

    siang_rd Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys, can i know is one stick of 8gb ram is better or 2x4gb or ram is better? Thx
     
    siang_rd, Nov 21, 2011
    #1
  2. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    One 8Gb stick will cost a lot with no performance gain.
    If you want to fill your slots with 8Gb sticks for whatever reason and the pocket can keep up, then do it but if you want to just keep 8Gb stay with your 2x4Gb kit.
     
    katalin_2003, Nov 21, 2011
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  3. siang_rd

    siang_rd Notebook Enthusiast

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    thx for the reply and advice but in my case, the 8gb stick is cheaper than 2 4gb stick, thats why i asked. feels weird with just a single 8gb stick in my laptop, so i asked. =). so it will be ok with just a single 8gb stick in my laptop right?
     
    siang_rd, Nov 21, 2011
    #3
  4. qohelet

    qohelet Senior Member

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    As far as i know a single 8gb is way expensive than 2x4gb sticks. However, go on what is cheaper to you whether it is 1x8gb or 2x4gb. Performance is gained not on the set up but on the speed of ram (eg. 1600mhz is faster than 1333mhz).
     
    qohelet, Nov 21, 2011
    #4
  5. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Hey sorry to barge in, what 8GB is better? 2x4GB or 4x2GB?
     
    widezu69, Nov 21, 2011
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  6. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    You'll hardly, if at all, see a performance difference between the two configs.
    I'd go for 2x4Gb reason being future proof, cheaper (?), less change of getting faulty sticks but that aside less filled slots means less to power => less stress on your board.
     
    katalin_2003, Nov 21, 2011
    #6
  7. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    Yeah thanks the reason I ask is because I've found some 1866Mhz that run at CL9 as opposed to CL11. Better response times but they only come in 2GB sticks.
     
    widezu69, Nov 21, 2011
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  8. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Get the better freq., Sandy bridge doesn't really care about cas latency. Give it speed!
     
    katalin_2003, Nov 21, 2011
    #8
  9. ratchetnclank

    ratchetnclank Notebook Deity

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    A few users were getting blue screens with 1866Mhz ram.

    You'll be better off with 1600Mhz
     
    ratchetnclank, Nov 21, 2011
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  10. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    2x4 is better!

    one stick of 8gb will run in single channel which is slower than dual channel 2x4gigs
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 21, 2011
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  11. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Am I wrong or is the R3 limited to 4 x 4 gig sticks total of 16. Each slot 4 gig max? I have 2 x 8 left over from a m18x and they only show 4 when I tried to install one. :eek:
     
    alienwolf, Nov 21, 2011
    #11
  12. qohelet

    qohelet Senior Member

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    Last time i check, you can put a max of 32 gb of ram in r3.
     
    qohelet, Nov 21, 2011
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  13. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    ^ yup 32gigs...but the cost of 4x8gig sticks is prohibitive
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 21, 2011
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  14. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    I must of been thinking of my wife's R2 sorry my Bad ;)
     
    alienwolf, Nov 21, 2011
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  15. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    R2 is a different beast...i think its 8 gigs max on that puppy
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 21, 2011
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  16. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Got ram question I got 2 x 8 9-9-9-28 would it work with 4 gig sticks 9-9-9-24?
    Or would I be asking for problems, would be nice to use them.
     
    alienwolf, Nov 21, 2011
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  17. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    theoretically, they will work...you'll have to run everything at 9-9-9-28, but you will have 24 gigs of ram...as long as all the sticks will run at the same voltage

    Try and it and lets see!
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 21, 2011
    #17