12 GB or 16GB RAM

[blxtn]

So basically, I have two 4 GB sticks of DDR3 RAM. I want to upgrade. Should I go all out and buy a 16 GB kit, or buy just one 8 GB stick of RAM, so, resulting in 12 GB of RAM.... Does it make a big difference?

 

(NOTE: I am on a super tight budget, so any DDR3 16 GB kit above $50, I am restricted to.)

[FurdTurgeson]

Just now, blxtn said:

So basically, I have two 4 GB sticks of DDR3 RAM. I want to upgrade. Should I go all out and buy a 16 GB kit, or buy just one 8 GB stick of RAM, so, resulting in 12 GB of RAM.... Does it make a big difference?

 

(NOTE: I am on a super tight budget, so any DDR3 16 GB kit above $50, I am restricted to.)

Sell the 8GB and get 16GB, I did that with a $25 budget.

[blxtn]

Just now, WSADKeysGaming said:

Sell the 8GB and get 16GB, I did that with a $25 budget.

Possibly able to do at my nearest PC component retailer... I've traded in parts and received discounts numerous times.... (ex. GT 630 and GT 740 for a GTX 960)

 

Hopefully, I can gather around a few older sticks of RAM and get the 16GB kit, thanks.

[Technozo]

Faster RAM>More RAM

[FurdTurgeson]

Just now, Technozo said:

Faster RAM>More RAM

Unless doing video editing, no. More RAM>faster RAM

[Mira Yurizaki]

I'm going to assume you game a lot, or at least that's the heaviest hitting application.

 

The only thing I'd be concerned about with one stick of 8GB is it'll force your system to run in single channel, but that's been shown to not have much of an effect anyway: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/does-dual-channel-memory-make-difference-in-gaming-performance/

 

Neither does more RAM per se: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/does-more-ram-improve-gaming-performance/

 

Still, 4GB is kind of bare minimum for a  decent system these days, so get a 16GB kit if you can find one (preferably from Corsair, Crucial, or G.Skill). Otherwise no harm, no foul going 8GB.

 

Also the only two cases I've seen faster RAM appreciably upgrade the performance of applications is if you're using an integrated GPU or you're doing file compression.

[Technozo]

3 minutes ago, WSADKeysGaming said:

 

4 minutes ago, Technozo said:

Faster RAM>More RAM

Unless doing video editing, no. More RAM>faster RAM

 

Yes but when gaming and everyday use faster RAM is better. Of course if you love having a million chrome tabs up and do video editing and other stuff then yes more RAM is better.

[blxtn]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

I'm going to assume you game a lot, or at least that's the heaviest hitting application.

 

The only thing I'd be concerned about with one stick of 8GB is it'll force your system to run in single channel, but that's been shown to not have much of an effect anyway: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/does-dual-channel-memory-make-difference-in-gaming-performance/

 

Neither does more RAM per se: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/does-more-ram-improve-gaming-performance/

 

Still, 4GB is kind of bare minimum for a  decent system these days, so get a 16GB kit if you can find one (preferably from Corsair, Crucial, or G.Skill). Otherwise no harm, no foul going 8GB.

 

Also the only two cases I've seen faster RAM appreciably upgrade the performance of applications is if you're using an integrated GPU or you're doing file compression.

Thanks for the recommendations. I do agree, and you are right, I am a precise gamer.

 

 

I may have explained wrong, but at the moment, I have two 4GB sticks in my system. So that's 8GB, If I remove one of those sticks and put an 8 GB stick, my system would be running in dual channel with 12GB of ram.

[FurdTurgeson]

Just now, Technozo said:

Yes but when gaming and everyday use faster RAM is better. Of course if you love having a million chrome tabs up and do video editing and other stuff then yes more RAM is better.

Open YouTube videos, Discord, Linus Tech tips forums and other stuff like that are always pinned in my browser, so that's why I picked 32 gigabytes of RAM for my system, even though I'm running a GTX 960 and an i3

[007agentHP]

3 minutes ago, Technozo said:

Yes but when gaming and everyday use faster RAM is better. Of course if you love having a million chrome tabs up and do video editing and other stuff then yes more RAM is better.

please watch this

Faster ram is not better than more ram

 

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 minute ago, blxtn said:

Thanks for the recommendations. I do agree, and you are right, I am a precise gamer.

 

 

I may have explained wrong, but at the moment, I have two 4GB sticks in my system. So that's 8GB, If I remove one of those sticks and put an 8 GB stick, my system would be running in dual channel with 12GB of ram.

No, dual channel has to have two of the same module type (speed, timing, capacity, etc) to run correctly.

[blxtn]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

No, dual channel has to have two of the same module type (speed, timing, capacity, etc) to run correctly.

Ah I see.... So I would be forced to have a 16 GB kit instead of two different modules... I see.

[FurdTurgeson]

Just now, blxtn said:

Ah I see.... So I would be forced to have a 16 GB kit instead of two different modules... I see.

Just resell the 8GB and get 16. Go with the flow and have a great day!  z

[Mira Yurizaki]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820156047

 

That's the cheapest 2x8GB kit I can find . You might get luckier on Amazon.

[Enderman]

15 minutes ago, Technozo said:

Faster RAM>More RAM

That is almost never the case, unless you already have more ram than you need (so 32 or 64GB for a normal person)

[Curufinwe_wins]

9 minutes ago, Enderman said:

That is almost never the case, unless you already have more ram than you need (so 32 or 64GB for a normal person)

Except for very modern games with GPUs stronger than say a 980 on a dual channel platform (x99 need not bother.)

 

Same type of thing with a 2500k. Shows scaling as well.

 

[Enderman]

1 minute ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

Except for modern games with GPUs stronger than say a 980 on a dual channel platform (x99 need not bother.)

 

 

You try playing a triple A game with 4GB instead of 16GB of ram and tell me if it even runs.

Then try playing it with 1600MHz instead of 2400MHz and complain about how you get 50fps instead of 55fps.

 

Do you see how this is not the same thing?

One is a necessity, one is just a performance improvement.

[Curufinwe_wins]

1 minute ago, Enderman said:

You try playing a triple A game with 4GB instead of 16GB of ram and tell me if it even runs.

Then try playing it with 1600MHz instead of 2400MHz and complain about how you get 50fps instead of 55fps.

 

Do you see how this is not the same thing?

One is a necessity, one is just a performance improvement.

I'm not saying he should do anything different, and obviously dual channel 1600 >>> single channel 2133.

 

Just pointing out that memory bandwidth is becoming increasingly important for AAA titles today.

[techguy142]

32 minutes ago, Technozo said:

Faster RAM>More RAM

Actually, faster RAM doesn't make a noticeable impact in everyday use. (See about 1:30 in this video).