Help with RAM

[someonewhoisonthisforum]

I'm currently in the middle of planning a new PC, it is my first time doing it, and I had a question. What is the difference between having 1x16gb stick of memory, or 2x8gb sticks of memory? Does it affect performance or does it not matter?

[Ankh Tech]

6 minutes ago, someonewhoisonthisforum said:

I'm currently in the middle of planning a new PC, it is my first time doing it, and I had a question. What is the difference between having 1x16gb stick of memory, or 2x8gb sticks of memory? Does it affect performance or does it not matter?

It does, get the 2x8, it increases performance by a considerable margain

[Jurrunio]

you must have at least two sticks to use dual channel memory, compared to single channel it could deliver up to double the bandwidth (realistically more like 1.8x, but still a lot). 2x8gb is definitely better than 1x16gb

[Chrisism8]

If i recall correctly it has to do with memory rankings. Basically how the CPU can access memory, you can read more about it here if you are interested. But yeah, going with 2 sticks is always the least you should. For (Redacted becase it is not the main reason as @Jurrunio said below)

Using both memory channels is the reason, with 1 stick you can only use 1 channel compared to 2. 

Zen 3 specifically Gamers Nexus has just posted a video finding that going from 2 sticks to 4 sticks can increase your performance from 2-10%. 

[Jurrunio]

1 minute ago, Chrisism8 said:

If i recall correctly it has to do with memory rankings. Basically how the CPU can access memory, you can read more about it here if you are interested. But yeah, going with 2 sticks is always the least you should. For Zen 3 specifically Gamers Nexus has just posted a video finding that going from 2 sticks to 4 sticks can increase your performance from 2-10%. 

more channels is a way bigger performance factor than more ranks. I dont think there are dual rank 8GB DDR4 sticks still being made however.

[Chrisism8]

Just now, Jurrunio said:

more channels is a way bigger performance factor than more ranks. I dont think there are dual rank 8GB DDR4 sticks still being made however.

Very True! Just woken up here, my bad

[BTGbullseye]

21 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

more channels is a way bigger performance factor than more ranks. I dont think there are dual rank 8GB DDR4 sticks still being made however.

When you have 4 sticks in a dual-channel system, that's how you get dual-rank.

[Jurrunio]

8 minutes ago, BTGbullseye said:

When you have 4 sticks in a dual-channel system, that's how you get dual-rank.

You can also opt for sticks with memory chips on both sides, that's also dual rank

[BTGbullseye]

Just now, Jurrunio said:

You can also opt for sticks wirh memory chips on both sides, that's also dual rank

Yes, but as you said, they are not currently being made for consumers. (I've seen dual-rank and quad-rank for server DIMMs, both of which would suck in a consumer scenario)

[Jurrunio]

8 minutes ago, BTGbullseye said:

Yes, but as you said, they are not currently being made for consumers. (I've seen dual-rank and quad-rank for server DIMMs, both of which would suck in a consumer scenario)

So you mean he can get 4x8gb to take advantage of both?

[Sophia_Borjia]

Gaming dual rank sticks are out there.  32 gig dims for example are all currently dual rank.  If you do 128Gb with 4 sticks you have dual channel with dual rank dims for 8 total ranks.  Server stuff can be quad rank on single stick of ram, that is not great for gaming.  Many 16gb sticks are dual rank, so 2x16gb could be 4 ranks in dual channel like 4x8 sticks. 2x32 is dual rank and dual channel for sure.

 

Get dual channel with 2 sticks  (unless you only have 2 slots and may go 32gb later but can't right now.  Every other scenario 2x8 is better then 1x16) 

[BTGbullseye]

6 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

So you mean he can get 4x8gb to take advantage of both?

Yes.

6 hours ago, Sophia_Borjia said:

Many 16gb sticks are dual rank

The only ones that are available for consumers are either poor quality, low speed, or are notoriously unreliable with Ryzen. (or any combination of the 3)

[Sophia_Borjia]

My gskill ddr4-3600 dual rank works fine on ryzen so far.  All the 32gb sticks are dual rank.  Only option for 128gb without going hedt platform.

 

edit, if you were saying 16gb size specifically, that may be.  My 16gb are single rank, only dual rank I have bought were 32gb.

[Jurrunio]

12 minutes ago, BTGbullseye said:

Yes.

that will increase cost, dont think OP wants to do that

[BTGbullseye]

2 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

that will increase cost, dont think OP wants to do that

The benefit is, you can get a good 2 module kit now, and a duplicate later. It's also only about 3-5% performance difference overall, but then again, that's the same price:performance ratio difference as the 5800X when compared to the 5600X and 5900X. Every little bit can add up though...