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    8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz vs 12GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 3 X 4GB

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by <(^_^)>, Dec 4, 2012.

  1. <(^_^)>

    <(^_^)> Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just about ready to buy myself a Sager Np9150.
    These two memory options are just $25 apart, is it worth it?
     
    <(^_^)>, Dec 4, 2012
    #1
  2. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    For the average user probably not, you need specific applications in mind to go over 8GB.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Dec 4, 2012
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  3. fenryr423

    fenryr423 Notebook Evangelist

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    dual channel ram operates best in pairs therefore you would need to go to a 4x4 setup to make it worthwhile IMHO
     
    fenryr423, Dec 4, 2012
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  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Not really, it is a tad faster in dual channel, but if you need the extra RAM, it's better to have it and run in single channel. For example, today i was using upwards of 10GB of RAM and capacity was more important than speed. It's all a matter of what you need and can buy.

    I'm using a 2x8GB setup, but between 2x4 or 3x4, but for my needs (which aren't representative a typical user), quantity is more important than speed. Also, it would have been running in async dual channel which is somewhere in between single and dual.
     
    tijo, Dec 4, 2012
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  5. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Running 3x4GB will still run dual channel, only with a slight penalty. It's called asymmetrical dual channel and will not result in any general PC performance issues, only IGP will drop ~ 5% from full dual channel. It will basically run 8GB at dual channel and the other 4GB at single channel, but it's managed to run data as close to dual channel performance as it can.

    Although RAM is so cheap, might as well pony up the few extra bucks for 16GB or stick with 8GB which is more than adequate and easily upgradable.
     
    HTWingNut, Dec 4, 2012
    #5