confusion over new memory

hampsteadbandit · 19 Jan 2015 at 18:41

First time poster so hoping someone can offer some technical advice?

I've just rebuilt my PC with new CPU, mobo, ssd and oei copy of win 7.

Noticed the 2 sticks of memory in my previous build were not matched, and my system seemed to run at the slower speed which made sense.

I had 2 GB of 1333mhz g-skill, and 6 GB of 1600mhz g-skill.

Traded them in today at an exchange shop, in an effort to take advantage of my new system, and picked up what I thought was a single stick 8 GB of 2133hmz.

Got home and found out its actually a 32 GB stick of Patriot quad-channel 2133mhz (pv332g213c1qk).

My system recognised this as 8 GB. Why does this not show as 32gb?

I'm using an Asus z-97-p mobo which tells me it has dual channel support (4 slots on the board). CPU is Intel i5 4570.

This is purely a gaming rig (Asus 670 OC GPU).

What is the best setup for this rig? Sell the 32gb stick and buy 2 sticks of matched 4gb?

Can someone explain the dual channel, and what it means for a gaming rig.

Thanks in advice, for any help you can offer!

RJC · 19 Jan 2015 at 18:46

Hello and welcome to the forum

For 32gb you will need 3 other sticks to go with your current 8gb, the cpu's memory controller will determine how the memory run's, the 4570 only has a dual channel memory controller.

Your memory was part of a match set (4 memory modules / sticks).

Link to how dual channel works:
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/d/dual-channel-memory.htm

hampsteadbandit · 19 Jan 2015 at 19:05

Hi RJC.

Thank you for your prompt and informative answer.

So is it worth leaving the single stick of 8gb in there, or buying 2 x 8gb for dual channel? (Budget has been somewhat blown already)

Is the memory stick i bought a quality item? I've already used the Asus app in the BIOS to increase memory speed to 2133mhz.

I am reading about there being some advantage in synthetic benchmarks for dual channel, but little noticed in real world application like gaming.

What is your take on that?

RJC · 19 Jan 2015 at 19:11

No probs

Patriot is good ram, used these in the past without issue, in real world tests you probably wont notice any differences.

hampsteadbandit · 19 Jan 2015 at 19:20

Thanks for your time and expertise.