Ram sticks number

-3

Now I know this question has been posted a lot but I cant find a satisfying answer anywhere on the internet.

So 2x4GB vs 1X8GB.

What are all the pros and cons in terms of speed, performance, temperatures and power consumption?

PS: I dont want to hear anything related to cost or saving slots for future upgrades.

Mihai Bratulescu

Posted 2013-08-29T18:36:58.683

Reputation: 239

Question was closed 2013-08-30T17:19:15.533

They are exactly the same in terms of speed, performance, temperatures and power consumption. – Ramhound – 2013-08-29T18:42:22.413

I've heard that 2x4GB is faster (although too small to cont) as well as other difference regarding that I've mentioned – Mihai Bratulescu – 2013-08-29T18:46:20.477

Where did you hear this? DDR3 is DDR3 the speed diferences would be in connected to the actual frequency differences in the memory. 2x4GB 3000mhz is exactly the same as a single 8GB 3000mhz module. – Ramhound – 2013-08-29T18:51:17.017

@Ramhound Depends on the motherboard configuration. Assuming it doesn't take advantage of Double Channel like technology, 2x4GB memory sticks may be marginally slower than a single one. But it would be too low to tell. – Doktoro Reichard – 2013-08-29T18:52:07.780

@DoktoroReichard - I assume in this case Double Channel is disabled for comparision ( Apples to Apples ) – Ramhound – 2013-08-29T18:53:40.473

@Ramhound OP probably wants to find out which one will give him better performance. If you're choosing between two CPUs you don't underclock the faster one first - same here. – gronostaj – 2013-08-30T09:39:56.337

Answers

2

So 2x4GB vs 1X8GB.

Assuming both 4GB and 8GB DIMMs have identical specs except for size:

  • Iff (and only if) your motherboard supports dual channel, triple channel or quad channel memory access you may see up to 5% speed gains. This very much varies per application.
  • 2 DIMMs use two sockets.
  • If each 4GB DIMM uses as much power as a 8GB DIMM it would use twice the power (mostly in the order of a few Watts though).

Hennes

Posted 2013-08-29T18:36:58.683

Reputation: 60 739

So all in all using 2 stick might give a bit of performance (mostly ignorable) if the motherboard supports multichannel at the cost of extra power consumption but lower temperatures per stick? – Mihai Bratulescu – 2013-08-29T19:10:27.063

I think it's worth mentioning that there could be minor differences in terms of speed, performance, temperatures and power consumption, but these are only relevant to research scientists specifically studying those differences. – graf_ignotiev – 2013-08-29T19:12:03.503

Yes, asuming the 8GB stick draws as much power as a single 4GB stick. This will not be true unless uses the the number of [bigger] memory chips. In practise I expect the 8GB DIMM to draw a bit more, evening out power usage. Alsop, power usage of DIMMs is small, around 2 Watt per DIMM. – Hennes – 2013-08-29T19:13:34.627

Asked: 2013-08-29T18:36:58.683

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