best 16 GB memory

[WVDrummer]

Is there a real difference for 16 GB memory if done as 2x8GB or 4x4GB? I am trying to decide which will be better for my gaming build. I am planning to use an I5 or I7. (leaning toward the I5).

[Centurius]

Not really, the biggest difference is with 2x8 you could possibly upgrade to 4x8 in the future.

[RollinLower]

when gaming you won't really notice a difference between 4 sticks or 2 sticks.

i suggest you get a 2 x 8 kit so you have room for future upgrades! (eventough 16 gigs is already overkill for gaming  )

[HumbleMobo]

Is there a real difference for 16 GB memory if done as 2x8GB or 4x4GB? I am trying to decide which will be better for my gaming build. I am planning to use an I5 or I7. (leaning toward the I5).

Well if you're going DDR4 then the G. Skill Ripjaws 4 are the fastest on the market clocking in at 3200MHz

[The Official Czex]

Is there a real difference for 16 GB memory if done as 2x8GB or 4x4GB? I am trying to decide which will be better for my gaming build. I am planning to use an I5 or I7. (leaning toward the I5).

 

Running your DIMMs in quad-channel has a slight performance benefit (and aesthetic benefit) over dual channel, but dual channel is a tad cheaper.

[HumbleMobo]

Is there a real difference for 16 GB memory if done as 2x8GB or 4x4GB? I am trying to decide which will be better for my gaming build. I am planning to use an I5 or I7. (leaning toward the I5).

2x8 can be cheaper but 4x4 is more efficient.  And in the case of the motherboard with the 4x4 set up you will be limited to quad channel and up motherboards which are a fair bit more expensive than dual channel ones mate.

[Centurius]

Running your DIMMs in quad-channel has a slight performance benefit (and aesthetic benefit) over dual channel, but dual channel is a tad cheaper.

I doubt he is planning an X-series chipset so a quad set would just be two dual channels anyway.

[App4that]

Keep an eye on the latency, that makes a difference in speed. Less is more. Best I found in DDR3 is the Ripjawx at 9, usually on sale for cheap too.

[The Official Czex]

I doubt he is planning an X-series chipset so a quad set would just be two dual channels anyway.

 

If looks is also his thing, then quad channel all the way! But if upgradability is key, then opt for the smarter decision: dual channel.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Running your DIMMs in quad-channel has a slight performance benefit (and aesthetic benefit) over dual channel, but dual channel is a tad cheaper.

Assuming you have quad channel, which is only x99 currently.

[WVDrummer]

Thanks folks. These were largely the impressions I was getting. 2x8 cheaper with better upgrade room, price-wise at least.

[Chris_R.]

BE cautious when looking for 16 in 4gb * 4sticks. It doubles your chance for defective ram.

 

My little story: Corsair Vengance DDR3 16 GB Kit of 4. Ran good for over a year. System suddenly starts crashing. Run memtest86+ and RMA the ram. Get New ram. Same problem. A new motherboard and RMA'd cpu later I sent the ram back AGAIN, and finally it appears to work. So moral of the story Corsair sent me 2 bad kits of ram.

[daniellearmouth]

It's largely down to the upgradability of the system more than anything else.

 

Of course, fewer sticks reduces the number of failure points in a system, but at the same time, it ends up cheaper to buy 2x8GB sticks over 4x4GB sticks if you have just four slots on your board and you eventually want 32GB of RAM. You'd need to replace all of your RAM if you went for four RAM modules last time, whereas you can just add two more of those 8GB sticks you used.

[Deli]

If looks is also his thing, then quad channel all the way! But if upgradability is key, then opt for the smarter decision: dual channel.

4 sticks =/= quad channel. Z97 and Z170 are only dual channel even if you can use four sticks of RAM.

[Deli]

It's largely down to the upgradability of the system more than anything else.

 

Of course, fewer sticks reduces the number of failure points in a system, but at the same time, it ends up cheaper to buy 2x8GB sticks over 4x4GB sticks if you have just four slots on your board and you eventually want 32GB of RAM. You'd need to replace all of your RAM if you went for four RAM modules last time, whereas you can just add two more of those 8GB sticks you used.

I think you have extreme bad luck. RAM are usually very reliable. Most RAM manufacturers gives lifetime warranty to their products. If ram sticks keep failing at alarming rate, they'll be fxxked.

[Maslofski]

depends on the platform, X99 will use 4 channels, but the consumer ones only 2

[daniellearmouth]

I think you have extreme bad luck. RAM are usually very reliable. Most RAM manufacturers gives lifetime warranty to their produces. If ram sticks keep failing at alarming rate, they'll be fxxked.

 

I personally haven't had any RAM failures. In fact, the only problems I've ever had with RAM are usually MEMORY_MANAGEMENT bluescreening on occasion on my laptop because it's mixing two different brands of RAM. Even then, it's very occasional and nothing too alarming.

It's just a case of any kind of hardware being a potential failure spot. Even though RAM is superbly reliable, you can end up with bogus RAM sometimes.

[Deli]

I personally haven't had any RAM failures. In fact, the only problems I've ever had with RAM are usually MEMORY_MANAGEMENT bluescreening on occasion on my laptop because it's mixing two different brands of RAM. Even then, it's very occasional and nothing too alarming.

It's just a case of any kind of hardware being a potential failure spot. Even though RAM is superbly reliable, you can end up with bogus RAM sometimes.

Agree.