RAM upgrade questions

[jasonycw]

Hi guys. I am looking for an upgrade to my RAM and there are quite some questions float in my mind and I would like to get some answer and suggestion.

 

I am now using some cheap RAM bundled with my motherboard when I bought it. They are two 4GB RAM with 1600MHz from TEAM and I seems to fill them all up a lot of the time. Since I use Chrome with usually 10 to 20 tabs where some of them are Youtube and I use some for Android emulator to do some programming, I would like to upgrade to 16GB RAM with a faster speed.

 

1) For 16GB, what is the difference between two 8GB and four 4GB RAM? Which is better?

 

2) Is there any compatible issue for high speed RAM with mid-range motherboard or CPU?

 

3) Is it a must to enter the BIOS and do some setting(XMP?) for RAM that faster than a certain clock speed(like 1333MHz)?

 

4) For Samsung SSD, do I need to turn off RAPID mode before changing the RAM? Since I know it uses RAM to do some speeding up.

 

Current Spec:

CPU: i5 3570k stock speed

RAM: 1600MHz 8GB RAM

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45

GPU: GTX780 Inno3D

SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

 

I am thinking about going for Corsair Dominator Platinum 1866MHz 2x8GB kit or Corsair Vengeance Pro 2400MHz 2x8GB kit.

I love the look of Dominator Platinum while it seems Vengeance Pro is a faster and cheaper choice.

But I am not sure if my motherboard and CPU can handle 2400MHz RAM and Dominator Platinum seems to be a more stable choice.

 

Any suggestions for the upgrade? Thanks.

 

 

[harrynowl]

Hi guys. I am looking for an upgrade to my RAM and there are quite some questions float in my mind and I would like to get some answer and suggestion.

 

I am now using some cheap RAM bundled with my motherboard when I bought it. They are two 4GB RAM with 1600MHz from TEAM and I seems to fill them all up a lot of the time. Since I use Chrome with usually 10 to 20 tabs where some of them are Youtube and I use some for Android emulator to do some programming, I would like to upgrade to 16GB RAM with a faster speed.

 

1) For 16GB, what is the difference between two 8GB and four 4GB RAM? Which is better?

 

2) Is there any compatible issue for high speed RAM with mid-range motherboard or CPU?

 

3) Is it a must to enter the BIOS and do some setting(XMP?) for RAM that faster than a certain clock speed(like 1333MHz)?

 

4) For Samsung SSD, do I need to turn off RAPID mode before changing the RAM? Since I know it uses RAM to do some speeding up.

 

Current Spec:

CPU: i5 3570k stock speed

RAM: 1600MHz 8GB RAM

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45

GPU: GTX780 Inno3D

SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

 

I am thinking about going for Corsair Dominator Platinum 1866MHz 2x8GB kit or Corsair Vengeance Pro 2400MHz 2x8GB kit.

I love the look of Dominator Platinum while it seems Vengeance Pro is a faster and cheaper choice.

But I am not sure if my motherboard and CPU can handle 2400MHz RAM and Dominator Platinum seems to be a more stable choice.

 

Any suggestions for the upgrade? Thanks.

1) 16GB is of course, best. 8GB is gamers sweetspot.

 

2) I think most boards can do 2133 without issues, 2400 on Haswell is also obtainable

 

3) Usually XMP

 

4) no idea, good idea to probably!

 

I guess if you do mega multitasking it's worth it, sell off your old kit.

[Mixzzz]

1) 16GB is of course, best. 8GB is gamers sweetspot.

He meant what is better, 2x8gb sticks or 4x4gb sticks

[nixproducer]

i Would get 2x8gb because you Can upgrade to more in the future

[jasonycw]

1) 16GB is of course, best. 8GB is gamers sweetspot.

 

2) I think most boards can do 2133 without issues, 2400 on Haswell is also obtainable

 

3) Usually XMP

 

4) no idea, good idea to probably!

 

I guess if you do mega multitasking it's worth it, sell off your old kit.

I may said something wrong, for (1).

I mean if I buy 16GB kit, what is the difference between buying 2x8GB and 4x4GB? Which is better?

 

Also, between Corsair Dominator Platinum 1866MHz 16GB kit or Corsair Vengeance Pro 2400MHz 16GB kit which is better choice? Assume they are both the same combination(2x8GB or 4x4GB)

[acidydragon]

Hi guys. I am looking for an upgrade to my RAM and there are quite some questions float in my mind and I would like to get some answer and suggestion.

 

I am now using some cheap RAM bundled with my motherboard when I bought it. They are two 4GB RAM with 1600MHz from TEAM and I seems to fill them all up a lot of the time. Since I use Chrome with usually 10 to 20 tabs where some of them are Youtube and I use some for Android emulator to do some programming, I would like to upgrade to 16GB RAM with a faster speed.

 

1) For 16GB, what is the difference between two 8GB and four 4GB RAM? Which is better?

 

2) Is there any compatible issue for high speed RAM with mid-range motherboard or CPU?

 

3) Is it a must to enter the BIOS and do some setting(XMP?) for RAM that faster than a certain clock speed(like 1333MHz)?

 

4) For Samsung SSD, do I need to turn off RAPID mode before changing the RAM? Since I know it uses RAM to do some speeding up.

 

Current Spec:

CPU: i5 3570k stock speed

RAM: 1600MHz 8GB RAM

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45

GPU: GTX780 Inno3D

SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

 

I am thinking about going for Corsair Dominator Platinum 1866MHz 2x8GB kit or Corsair Vengeance Pro 2400MHz 2x8GB kit.

I love the look of Dominator Platinum while it seems Vengeance Pro is a faster and cheaper choice.

But I am not sure if my motherboard and CPU can handle 2400MHz RAM and Dominator Platinum seems to be a more stable choice.

 

Any suggestions for the upgrade? Thanks.

1. Go for the 2x8gb, for upgrading in the future

2. At worst, it'll underclock to what the MB can support.

3. Generally, yes.

4. You should be fine without turning it off.

 

Also, make sure to check the timing of the ram, as that will have an impact on the speed too.

[acidydragon]

I may said something wrong, for (1).

I mean if I buy 16GB kit, what is the difference between buying 2x8GB and 4x4GB? Which is better?

 

Also, between Corsair Dominator Platinum 1866MHz 16GB kit or Corsair Vengeance Pro 2400MHz 16GB kit which is better choice? Assume they are both the same combination(2x8GB or 4x4GB)

It'll be the same as far as performance goes, so theres no reason to get more sticks of less ram.

If you go with the 2x8gb, you can put 2 more sticks in if you ever feel you need even more, with the 4x4, you have to buy brand new ram to go up any.

Also, 4 stick kits are normally for 2011 boards with 8 slots, not for using in 1150(usually), so normally the 2 stick kits are what are recommended for other socket boards.

[jasonycw]

Also, make sure to check the timing of the ram, as that will have an impact on the speed too.

 

What is mean by timing? Isn't XMP will auto adjust the speed?

[harrynowl]

I may said something wrong, for (1).

I mean if I buy 16GB kit, what is the difference between buying 2x8GB and 4x4GB? Which is better?

 

Also, between Corsair Dominator Platinum 1866MHz 16GB kit or Corsair Vengeance Pro 2400MHz 16GB kit which is better choice? Assume they are both the same combination(2x8GB or 4x4GB)

No difference really, I'd get 2x8 purely so there's slots open if you ever need more.

 

What is mean by timing? Isn't XMP will auto adjust the speed?

If one kit is say...

 

2600MHz CL11

 

and another is

 

2600MHz CL9

 

The CL9 kit is faster

[acidydragon]

What is mean by timing? Isn't XMP will auto adjust the speed?

The speed (like 1600mhz) isn't the timing.

The timing will be something like 9-9-9-24.

It's a tad complicated, reading up on it would be good.

I'll go find a link for you

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Understanding-RAM-Timings/26

[jasonycw]

No difference really, I'd get 2x8 purely so there's slots open if you ever need more.

 

 

If one kit is say...

 

2600MHz CL11

 

and another is

 

2600MHz CL9

 

The CL9 kit is faster

 

 

The speed (like 1600mhz) isn't the timing.

The timing will be something like 9-9-9-24.

It's a tad complicated, reading up on it would be good.

I'll go find a link for you

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Understanding-RAM-Timings/26

 

So which affect the performance more? Speed or timing? 

 

So I look at the code for the RAM kit I am searching. They are:

 

A) Corsair Vengeance Pro CMY16GX3M2A2400C11A DDR3 2400MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 

B) Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A1600C9 DDR3 1600MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 

C) Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A1866C10 DDR3 1866MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 

D) Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A1866C9 DDR3 1866MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB)

 

Which one is a better choice? I order them from cost less to cost more.

[harrynowl]

 

So which affect the performance more? Speed or timing? 

 

So I look at the code for the RAM kit I am searching. They are:

 

A) Corsair Vengeance Pro CMY16GX3M2A2400C11A DDR3 2400MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 

B) Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A1600C9 DDR3 1600MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 

C) Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A1866C10 DDR3 1866MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 

D) Corsair Dominator Platinum CMD16GX3M2A1866C9 DDR3 1866MHz 16GB Kit (2x8GB)

 

Which one is a better choice? I order them from cost less to cost more.

 

Latency has more impact than bandwidth performance wise (lower is better) unless you do virtual machines and stuff.

 

I'd go for the option D if it's only a tad more expensive (like... 2-4%)

[The_Strict_Nein]

The 4th option,1866 With C9 (The C at the end of the part code tells you the latency)

[acidydragon]

Go for the 4th one