4GB vs 6GB

StarSolitude · 1 Oct 2009 at 19:09

I'm wondering whether to go for a Core i5 build and use 4GB Dual Channel RAM, or get an i7 build that uses 6GB Tri-Channel...

6GB Tri-Channel is appealing to me more. But... is there a noticable difference between 4GB and 6GB, between dual channel and tri-channel?

Greebo · 1 Oct 2009 at 19:45

depends on the operating system you are using.

You need 6gb of memory in Vista to run at the same speed as 4gb in xp.

JonJ678 · 2 Oct 2009 at 00:04

Dual vs triple channel doesn't seem to matter very much. I like 6gb much more than 4gb, but you haven't told us what you'll use the machine for so we can't really say.

craig3000 · 2 Oct 2009 at 16:37

In all honesty no it doesn't make a difference whether you use your PC for general stuff or gaming 4GB will last a long time!!!

Only reason you would pick 6GB over 4GB is if 1. Money was not a factor 2. You did some sort of graphics work or the likes that requires extensive memory usage

mdjmcnally · 2 Oct 2009 at 18:31

If gaming then may as well go with the 1156 i5 or i7 if you want more power.

The only reason going 1336 i7 is if doing encoding, or you really, really believe you are going to want/need an i9 when they launch.