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    RAM: 4 2GB sticks or 2 4GB sticks

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Sasquatch202, Mar 17, 2011.

  1. Sasquatch202

    Sasquatch202 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Any advantages of one setup over the other? I realize if i get 4sticks of 2GB, it would be a slight pain to upgrade further, but I don't see myself needing more than 8GBs anytime soon.
     
    Sasquatch202, Mar 17, 2011
    #1
  2. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    The 4x 2 GB sticks might be somewhat cheaper than the 2x 4 GB sticks, but that's about the only other thing offhand that I can think of. I think the 4x 2 GB sticks _may_ draw a little more power than 2x 4 GB sticks, but the difference will be pretty much negligible.
     
    Judicator, Mar 17, 2011
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  3. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

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    A general rule of thumb is to select the most amount of memory you can afford per slot that your motherboard can support. The reason being when it comes time to uprade your PC you'll have slots available for additional memory.

    A case might be made that with 4 x 2GB memory modules, the timings might be more favorable than 2 x 4GB, but this will most likely depend on the type of RAM used and it's rated speed and frequency.

    I have also heard that by not populating all the memory slots in your PC, that the PC will not have to "work" as hard if you had filled every slot with a RAM module. In my opinion, I would get a 2 x 4GB kit with matching modules.
     
    garetjax, Mar 17, 2011
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  4. yknyong1

    yknyong1 Radiance with Radeon

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    Keep in mind there are less points of failure when you have less sticks.
     
    yknyong1, Mar 17, 2011
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  5. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    2 x 4GB is the preferred option, for the reasons mentioned above.

    4 x 2GB might be worth considering if it represents a significant enough cost saving, although I've just had a quick check & for DDR-1333 in the UK at least, there doesn't seem to be any cost benefit to the smaller DIMMS - the 4GB are near enough exactly twice the price.
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 17, 2011
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  6. garetjax

    garetjax NBR Freelance Reviewer NBR Reviewer

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    Very good point, and something I forgot to mention! :)
     
    garetjax, Mar 17, 2011
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  7. Seanwhat

    Seanwhat Notebook Evangelist

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    Would be excess weight also.
     
    Seanwhat, Mar 17, 2011
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  8. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    I'll eat my hat if you could tell the difference without a pair of scales!
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 17, 2011
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  9. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Notebook Virtuoso

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    And they'd have to be pretty damn specific scales at that lol
     
    Hungry Man, Mar 17, 2011
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  10. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

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    aren't the new SB chips/memory controlers supposed to support quad channel memory?

    Edit; Ah that will be LGA2011........ :(
     
    TANWare, Mar 17, 2011
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  11. granyte

    granyte ATI+AMD -> DAAMIT

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    if i had 4 slot i'd got straight for 4x4gb
     
    granyte, Mar 17, 2011
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  12. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

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    But isn't the opposite true, as well?

    If you have 4 x 2GB, and one stick goes bad, you'll still have 6GB while you wait for your RMA.

    If you have 2 x 4GB sticks, and one goes back, you "only" have 4GB while you wait for a replacement.
     
    SoundOf1HandClapping, Mar 17, 2011
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  13. Seanwhat

    Seanwhat Notebook Evangelist

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    how is this a discussion... just get 2x4gb seriously.
     
    Seanwhat, Mar 17, 2011
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  14. nicksti

    nicksti Notebook Evangelist

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    As geeks it is our jobs to over-analyze everything.

    Up next: The ideal seats to get when going to an IMAX movie. Factors to take into consideration beyond distance from screen, viewing angles, and acoustics will be demographics of population to minimize the probability someone tall obstructs your view, and the distribution chain that provides the soda to ensure the freshest possible bubbles.
     
    nicksti, Mar 17, 2011
    #14