RAM: best setup? (16gig)

eddywatson · 19 Apr 2014 at 13:23

Hello

I was just wondering whats the different between:

4x4
2x8
1x16 etc..

for ram?
I was looking for either a new pc or laptop with 16gig RAM, but I was abit confused about the RAM setup... do all of the combinations work exactly the same? and the only different between them is for the space within a laptop or tower?

If I wanted 16gig ram, for a machine to handle high end design packages and top gaming what setup is the best?

Thank you

P.S - Sorry if this is in the wrong section

Jamin280672 · 19 Apr 2014 at 13:52

2 x 8gb would be best, this would enable the RAM to run in dual channel and leaves 2 slots free for future upgrades if required.

4 sticks would also run dual channel, but fill all of your slots.

1 stick would only work in single channel mode.

eddywatson · 19 Apr 2014 at 13:55

Thanks for the info...
with the above combinations you mentioned... is there any performance differences? or will all the setups perform 100% the same?

Silent_Scone · 19 Apr 2014 at 14:08

What socket?

Jamin280672 · 19 Apr 2014 at 14:09

Dual channel (2 or 4 sticks) will perform better than single channel (1 stick) in all cases.

2 sticks only will perform better than 4 sticks depending on what speed the sticks are, ie, if you buy 1600mhz x 2 sticks you can run them at a command rate of 1T, 4 sticks will require a command rate of 2T.

However if you went for something like 2400mhz, 2 & 4 sticks will require you to run them at a command rate of 2T.

eddywatson · 19 Apr 2014 at 14:16

Jamin280672 said:
Dual channel (2 or 4 sticks) will perform better than single channel (1 stick) in all cases.

2 sticks only will perform better than 4 sticks depending on what speed the sticks are, ie, if you buy 1600mhz x 2 sticks you can run them at a command rate of 1T, 4 sticks will require a command rate of 2T.

However if you went for something like 2400mhz, 2 & 4 sticks will require you to run them at a command rate of 2T.

it was for: 16GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (2 x 8GB)

as for running at different rates... I have no idea what that means lol

Jamin280672 · 19 Apr 2014 at 14:20

ahh its for a laptop, does your laptop even have 4 memory slots ?, unless you have a high end gaming laptop then you probably cant change the timings / rates anyway, the bioses on laptops are very basic and limited to what you can adjust and see.

eddywatson · 19 Apr 2014 at 14:29

Well im pricing a laptop up at the moment (I have not bought it yet) Below is some spec's I dont know what part of the laptop would hold the memory slots?

Chassis & Display Vortex Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4810MQ (2.80GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM) 16GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 880M

maybe one of them components will shed some light on things?

Jamin280672 · 19 Apr 2014 at 14:49

Not really, would need the model number of the laptop and then look up the detailed manual of the internals to find out how many memory slots it has etc.

eddywatson · 19 Apr 2014 at 15:56

Well this is the full specs so far:

Chassis & Display Vortex Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4810MQ (2.80GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM) 16GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 880M - 8.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
2nd Graphics Card NONE
Memory - Hard Disk 250GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk 1TB SEAGATE HYBRID GEN3 SSHD Drive, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (5400 rpm)
RAID NONE
mSATA SSD Drive NONE
2nd mSATA SSD Drive NONE
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card Intel 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio + SPDIF/MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ 1202 WIRELESS GAMING 802.11N + BLUETOOTH 4.0
Wireless Router/HomePlugs NONE
USB Options 3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Firewire 1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT
Battery Vortex Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (5,200 mAh/76.96WH)
Power Lead & Adaptor 1 x UK Power Lead & 230W AC Adaptor
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence
DVD Recovery Media Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
Office Software FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Laptop Cooling Stands NONE
Carry Case NONE
Stand-Alone Monitor NONE
Keyboard Language INTEGRATED BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Additional Keyboard NONE
Notebook Mouse INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Gaming Mouse Pad NONE
External Speakers NONE
Webcam INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Headsets NONE
Surge Protection NONE
Printer NONE
External Hard Drive NONE
Warranty 3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Home Installation NONE
Dead Pixel Guarantee NONE
Insurance 1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Data Recovery NONE
Delivery STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Miscellaneous FREE £90 IN-GAME VOUCHER with GTX 650 / 750 /7000M / 8000M Series GPUs

Jamin280672 · 19 Apr 2014 at 18:13

So your having the laptop built for you, unfortunately the one piece of information in that long list that's truly required to find out if it has 4 memory slots or not is missing........the motherboard.

eddywatson · 20 Apr 2014 at 16:59

Jamin280672 said:
So your having the laptop built for you, unfortunately the one piece of information in that long list that's truly required to find out if it has 4 memory slots or not is missing........the motherboard.

Memory
Memory Type Supports DDR-III 1333MHz (1600MHz with Core i7)
Number of Modules 4
Maximum Supported Memory 32GB

is that any help ? lol