2x16 or 4x8 for Z490?

[GuruMeditationError]

As per the title...

...should I try and avoid 4x8 for Z490?

Would 2x16 be better?

[visible]

Depends on CPU, check how many lanes it has for RAM, if 2, then any more is useless.

[Fasauceome]

typically less dimms are easier to get to high speeds, but outside of that you're not really looking at much defference.

[porina]

Functionally no different. In particular, loading is the same as 8GB modules are single rank, and 16GB modules are probably dual rank. So you get the same loading as seen by the memory controller.

[Haro]

10 hours ago, visible said:

eck how many lanes it has for RAM, if 2, then any more is useless.

You do know all consumer platform cpu's (lga1151/55/50/1200 etc and am4) only have 2 channels right?
 

 

10 hours ago, GuruMeditationError said:

.should I try and avoid 4x8 for Z490?

assuming they're identical, there wont be any increase in bandwidth from 4x8, go with a 2x16 kit, and you'll have room for upgradability. 

[GuruMeditationError]

7 minutes ago, TofuHaroto said:

You do know all consumer platforms only have 2 channels right?
 

 

assuming they're identical, there wont be any increase in bandwidth from 4x8, go with a 2x16 kit, and you'll have room for upgradability. 

I'd assumed DDR4 would be quad channel for consumer platforms. I only just found out it's still only dual channel.

Generally speaking it's easier to find faster 8gig sticks than 16gig sticks, but if I go for 4 x 8 I'm stuck at 32Gig...

 

...especially if DDR5 kills DDR4 before I can move to a newer platform: I'm currently still on Z97 which is DDR3 and it was close to impossible finding fast DDR3 RAM at a reasonable price to keep my system fast enough for newer games. When DDR4 was released they basically stopped making DDR3. 

[Haro]

10 hours ago, GuruMeditationError said:

Generally speaking it's easier to find faster 8gig sticks than 16gig sticks, but if I go for 4 x 8 I'm stuck at 32Gig..

Yea sadly, as i said assuming they're identical, performance should be the same, and yea consumer platform cpu's only have 2 channels. 

and yea 2x16 would give you room for upgradability. 

[porina]

8 minutes ago, TofuHaroto said:

assuming they're identical, there wont be any increase in bandwidth from 4x8, go with a 2x16 kit, and you'll have room for upgradability. 

They're only the same as the rank loading is the same in the example. If it possible when capacity is more different that you get a rank difference per channel, in which case higher rank can give much higher effective bandwidth for the same nominal working speed.

 

1 minute ago, GuruMeditationError said:

...especially if DDR5 kills DDR4 before I can move to a newer platform:

We might or might not see DDR5 towards the end of next year. Don't hold your breath.

[Haro]

10 hours ago, porina said:

in which case higher rank can give much higher effective bandwidth for the same nominal working speed.

Yea im aware, but that's why i said "identical".

[Mister Woof]

4x8. ALWAYS 4x8.

 

Why? Because naked DIMMS suck.

 

Make sure to get them LED/RGB too, or everyone will make fun of you.

[GuruMeditationError]

24 minutes ago, porina said:

We might or might not see DDR5 towards the end of next year. Don't hold your breath.

That's what I'm thinking. From what I've been reading it was supposed to be here already; maybe rocket lake might be a DDR5 platform...

...but from what I'm reading DDR5 should take another year or so to mature after release.

If no DDR5 with Rocket Lake I'm hoping they'll keep making fast DDR4 RAM, so that I can pick some up when I'm going to need it.

 

Edit: Just found this: https://wccftech.com/intel-alder-lake-s-lga-1700-ddr5-memory-support-rocket-lake-s-tdp-rumor/#:~:text=Intel Alder Lake-S CPUs,S Desktop CPU TDPs Detailed&text=Intel is expected to ship,from Chinese based PTT forums.

[porina]

1 hour ago, GuruMeditationError said:

That's what I'm thinking. From what I've been reading it was supposed to be here already; maybe rocket lake might be a DDR5 platform...

Rocket Lake is expected to use the same platform as Comet Lake, so still DDR4. Alder Lake is stated as 2H 2021 by Intel, but they didn't mention what ram it would take.