2x8gb vs 1x16gb - any issues?

P1Fanatic

P1Fanatic

P1Fanatic

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I’m looking at a prebuild that comes spec’d with this memory by default – which I quite like price/performance wise and the black with RGB ties in with the ASUS Rog Strix Mobo and 1080TI:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/team...al-channel-kit-rgb-black-tf1d4-my-08m-tg.html

However one of the config options for the prebuild offers a single 16gb DIMM from Build Stock (I assume that means a spare single they have left over from a previous build). It’s 3000MHZ so slightly lower speed but from what I read that’s not a massive difference anyway. I believe it’s one DIMM from this kit:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/team...ual-channel-kit-grey-tlgd432g3-my-08p-tg.html

Using that would knock off £100 from my build. The timings look identical. Assuming that OCUK would honour their life time warranty it seems like a no brainer (other than losing RGB but I suspect the novelty of that will soon wear off). But is there any issues, performance or otherwise, running a single DIMM rather than a pair? Possible later down the line I could add more – would I be able to do that as 2x8gb or would I need to stick with the same type in all slots for best performance (which would mean another 2x16GB)?

Thanks in advance.
 
Personally I would prefer 2x8GB as this then runs in dual channel and this can give quite a bit of performance gain. If you google 'Single channel vs dual channel RAM' and go to images or onto some of the pages there are some diagrams where tests have been carried out.

Also if you get 1x16GB and then later want to add some more RAM... it can be risky as you can buy the same stick/model of RAM so another 1x16GB, but it is not guaranteed to have the same speeds and latency as the first stick as they were not manufactured in the same batch and together. This can cause compatibility issues...

So would you later be wanting to upgrade your RAM? If so I would recommend getting the 2x8GB as these should be compatible, then you can buy another 2x8GB which will be compatible with each other. Each pair should be ran in dual channel with each other though... so you need to remember which pair is which sort of thing.
 
harvey.l12 said:
Personally I would prefer 2x8GB as this then runs in dual channel and this can give quite a bit of performance gain. If you google 'Single channel vs dual channel RAM' and go to images or onto some of the pages there are some diagrams where tests have been carried out.

Also if you get 1x16GB and then later want to add some more RAM... it can be risky as you can buy the same stick/model of RAM so another 1x16GB, but it is not guaranteed to have the same speeds and latency as the first stick as they were not manufactured in the same batch and together. This can cause compatibility issues...

So would you later be wanting to upgrade your RAM? If so I would recommend getting the 2x8GB as these should be compatible, then you can buy another 2x8GB which will be compatible with each other. Each pair should be ran in dual channel with each other though... so you need to remember which pair is which sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Not sure I will ever need more than 16gb was more “what if”. And that the TG Nighthawk LED’s had been on offer at £240 for 2x16GB but that offer has finished.

I will stick with the 2x8GB then just to be safe.
 
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