Upgrading Memory.

[DatBrummie]

Hi guys, I currently have 8GB of G.Skill memory (as in my signature) and I'm looking to upgrade to 1, as occasionally on some games (mainly GTA V) I get a windows pop up saying I'm low on memory and to close the game. 

 

However I wondered what is best to buy.

First of all, 2 stick kit to 4? My motherboard has 4 slots but would I notice any difference between 2 and 4?

 

Secondly, how important is memory speed? Would 1600 be that much slower than 1866? (Those are the two speeds I'm really considering)

 

Thirdly, how does the CL system work? CL 9 is better than 10? Is CL9 1600 MHz better than CL10 1866 MHz? What do the 3 numbers mean?

 

Basically looking for a buyers guide on memory!

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer one or all of my questions.

[Mug]

just look at the specs of your current memory (it'll be on the box or a sticker) and match it up with some similar ram.

 

Fro example, I have 2x4GB of Corsair XMS3 1600 at cas 9 and 1.5v and i'd get any kit with 1600mhz, caas 9 and 1.5v for the best results.

 

lower cas is better btw

[SeanAngelo]

Hi guys, I currently have 8GB of G.Skill memory (as in my signature) and I'm looking to upgrade to 1, as occasionally on some games (mainly GTA V) I get a windows pop up saying I'm low on memory and to close the game. 

 

However I wondered what is best to buy.

First of all, 2 stick kit to 4? My motherboard has 4 slots but would I notice any difference between 2 and 4?

 

Secondly, how important is memory speed? Would 1600 be that much slower than 1866? (Those are the two speeds I'm really considering)

 

Thirdly, how does the CL system work? CL 9 is better than 10? Is CL9 1600 MHz better than CL10 1866 MHz? What do the 3 numbers mean?

 

Basically looking for a buyers guide on memory!

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer one or all of my questions.

I have 4GB RAM and i'm fine playing GTA V. What programs are running in the background? Some of them might be taking up too much RAM usage. Even my brother has 8GB and he has never encountered this problem.

[Sakkura]

 

First of all, 2 stick kit to 4? My motherboard has 4 slots but would I notice any difference between 2 and 4?

 

Secondly, how important is memory speed? Would 1600 be that much slower than 1866? (Those are the two speeds I'm really considering)

 

Thirdly, how does the CL system work? CL 9 is better than 10? Is CL9 1600 MHz better than CL10 1866 MHz? What do the 3 numbers mean?

 

1: Doesn't really matter.

 

2: There's a slight difference between 1600 and 1866, but not really worth bothering with. Just get something that matches your current kit.

 

3: Lower is better, but only comparable at the same clocks. CL9 at 1600 is actually slower than CL10 at 1866. Essentially you have to divide the CL number by the clocks to get comparable numbers. The other numbers after CL are the other timings that are somewhat less important.

[DatBrummie]

1: Doesn't really matter.

 

2: There's a slight difference between 1600 and 1866, but not really worth bothering with. Just get something that matches your current kit.

 

3: Lower is better, but only comparable at the same clocks. CL9 at 1600 is actually slower than CL10 at 1866. Essentially you have to divide the CL number by the clocks to get comparable numbers. The other numbers after CL are the other timings that are somewhat less important.

 

1. That's what I expected but wanted to make sure.

 

2. My current kit is 2133 though, that's a little pricey, looking to upgrade in size but downgrade in speed slightly, was looking at 1866.

 

3. So I only need to really worry about the first number for CL? 

http://www.ebuyer.com/509506-corsair-16gb-ddr3-1866mhz-vengeance-pro-kit-cmy16gx3m2a1866c9 Would this be decent?

[DatBrummie]

I have 4GB RAM and i'm fine playing GTA V. What programs are running in the background? Some of them might be taking up too much RAM usage. Even my brother has 8GB and he has never encountered this problem.

 

Running on pretty high settings, high view range and density and stuff.

Chrome, steam, and either Skype or Teamspeak open in the background

[TheMcSame]

2 vs 4, not really a huge difference tbh.

 

Speed isn't a huge factor. Latency is more important when it comes to system RAM but it's a similar story, cl9 vs cl11 isn't going to be a huge difference for you.

 

CL is the latency, the lower the better. Overall latency can be worked out like this CL/(speed/2)*1000=Actual latency in ns. It wont make a huge difference for you though as mentioned above.

[DatBrummie]

2 vs 4, not really a huge difference tbh.

 

Speed isn't a huge factor. Latency is more important when it comes to system RAM but it's a similar story, cl9 vs cl11 isn't going to be a huge difference for you.

 

CL is the latency, the lower the better. Overall latency can be worked out like this CL/(speed/2)*1000=Actual latency in ns. It wont make a huge difference for you though as mentioned above.

 

Would the RAM I linked above be good enough to game on in terms of latency and speed then? I think I overdid it a little with my current RAM haha

[SeanAngelo]

Running on pretty high settings, high view range and density and stuff.

Chrome, steam, and either Skype or Teamspeak open in the background

well thats the reason why then....

[DatBrummie]

well thats the reason why then....

 

Haha yeah I know, Chrome uses a lot. I know i could get by on 8GB for a little more if I really wanted to but I'd rather upgrade now while I have the money 

[Sakkura]

1. That's what I expected but wanted to make sure.

 

2. My current kit is 2133 though, that's a little pricey, looking to upgrade in size but downgrade in speed slightly, was looking at 1866.

 

3. So I only need to really worry about the first number for CL? 

http://www.ebuyer.com/509506-corsair-16gb-ddr3-1866mhz-vengeance-pro-kit-cmy16gx3m2a1866c9 Would this be decent?

 

Yeah 1866 would be a good solution, and your current kit could also run at that reduced speed if you wanted to keep it and mix with a new kit. The first number (CL) is most important, the others matter a little too... but usually they're tied pretty close together, so you can just decide based on the CL. That kit is decent except for the unnecessarily large heatsinks. All they do is potentially get in the way of a large CPU cooler.

[Hero7750]

The low memory is just an issue with some people with GTA V atm, it should be fixed. 

[DatBrummie]

Yeah 1866 would be a good solution, and your current kit could also run at that reduced speed if you wanted to keep it and mix with a new kit. The first number (CL) is most important, the others matter a little too... but usually they're tied pretty close together, so you can just decide based on the CL. That kit is decent except for the unnecessarily large heatsinks. All they do is potentially get in the way of a large CPU cooler.

 

I could mix them? I thought that you could only mix them if the sticks are the same size? Not sure where I heard that but I did hear it haha.

And yeah the heatsync is stupid, I'd go for low profile if I was to actually buy them.

[Sakkura]

I could mix them? I thought that you could only mix them if the sticks are the same size? Not sure where I heard that but I did hear it haha.

And yeah the heatsync is stupid, I'd go for low profile if I was to actually buy them.

 

Different density chips can be an issue sometimes, but generally mixing different sizes is not a problem. But I mean, getting a single kit is guaranteed not to have compatibility issues, mixing stuff is never 100% guaranteed to work.

[DatBrummie]

Different density chips can be an issue sometimes, but generally mixing different sizes is not a problem. But I mean, getting a single kit is guaranteed not to have compatibility issues, mixing stuff is never 100% guaranteed to work.

 

I'd probably keep the current kit as a spare and not try to use it. 16GB would be plenty, I doubt I'll need 24 haha. 

which brand is best?

[Sakkura]

I'd probably keep the current kit as a spare and not try to use it. 16GB would be plenty, I doubt I'll need 24 haha. 

which brand is best?

 

Brands don't matter much. Though if I had to pick, I'd probably say G.Skill.

[DatBrummie]

Brands don't matter much. Though if I had to pick, I'd probably say G.Skill.

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/663174-hyperx-16gb-1866mhz-ddr3-non-ecc-cl9-dimm-kit-of-2-xmp-hyperx-hx318c9srk2-16 

this should be fine right? It's 9-10-11 instead of 9-10-9 like the Corsair was, and it doesn't have the 4th number, but it's low profile which i prefer

[Sakkura]

Yeah it's fine.

[DatBrummie]

Yeah it's fine.

 

Great, thanks for the help!

[Sakkura]

No problem, enjoy your new upgrade.