RAMifications

Razoo · 5 Feb 2016 at 22:14

Hi,

I'm slowly (very slowly it seems!) accumulating the component parts for a new office computer build (no gaming). I now need to buy the RAM (DDR3 - 1600MHz).

For software reasons my OS will be Windows 7, 32-Bit, which will only address 4GB of RAM.

My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-Z97M-D3H. This MB has four RAM slots configured as two channels.

I know to divide the RAM equally between the two channels, but I need to confirm or dispel some information I have found on the web:

1. Even though the 32-Bit OS will only address 4GB of RAM, it is better to fit 8GB of RAM as the computer will run faster. Truth or myth (I suspect the latter)?

2. It is better to divide the RAM equally over the four slots on the MB, rather than to use just two slots (one from each channel).

So, rather than fit 2 x 2GB, would there be any discernable benefit from fitting 2 x 4GB (using only two RAM slots), or 4 x 2GB (using all four RAM slots)?

Thanks.

Armageus · 5 Feb 2016 at 22:19

Razoo said:
1. Even though the 32-Bit OS will only address 4GB of RAM, it is better to fit 8GB of RAM as the computer will run faster. Truth or myth (I suspect the latter)?

Myth - 4GB is all you will get (in fact you may get as little as 3.25GB useable depending on what devices / graphics card etc you have)

Razoo said:
2. It is better to divide the RAM equally over the four slots on the MB, rather than to use just two slots (one from each channel).

2 Slots or 4 Slots makes no difference, both will work in "Dual Channel" mode.

Razoo said:
So, rather than fit 2 x 2GB, would there be any discernable benefit from fitting 2 x 4GB (using only two RAM slots), or 4 x 2GB (using all four RAM slots)?

For an office machine, even just using a single 4GB stick won't be a problem - it is at worst probably 5% slower (single vs dual channel)

Razoo · 6 Feb 2016 at 18:05

Armageus said:
Myth - 4GB is all you will get (in fact you may get as little as 3.25GB useable depending on what devices / graphics card etc you have)

2 Slots or 4 Slots makes no difference, both will work in "Dual Channel" mode.

Thanks for the advice. I'll go for 2 x 2GB split over the two channels.

I'm thinking of buying Crucial RAM. Is that an adequate choice, or is there a better make I should consider?

CPU question next

Armageus · 6 Feb 2016 at 19:13

Razoo said:
I'm thinking of buying Crucial RAM. Is that an adequate choice, or is there a better make I should consider

Crucial is a good make but for your purpose literally whatever make is cheapest would be fine.