Which Way For 8GB

[TheHitMan-1973]

Looking to choose 8gb , which is the best was to go and does it matter from the below ?

8192MB (2x4096) 1333MHz
8192MB (4x2048) 1333MHz

 

[cmndr_andi]

2x4GB

This puts less strain on the memory controller and allows you to upgrade even further in the future.

In terms of performance, the two configurations are the same.

May I ask what motherboard you will be using?

 

[justintime2001]

2x4GB

This puts less strain on the memory controller and allows you to upgrade even further in the future.

+1

 

[Spook187]

Can i ask something,people say it puts strain on the memory controller,are these boards with all the space for more ram not designed to cope with the extra ram if needed,seems pointless otherwise to me.

 

[titaniumx3]

Can i ask something,people say it puts strain on the memory controller,are these boards with all the space for more ram not designed to cope with the extra ram if needed,seems pointless otherwise to me.

I think he was talking in terms of overclocking capability.

They will definitely work at stocks settings, but adding more memory sticks may limit the overclocking potential of your CPU, memory, etc.

 

[cmndr_andi]

Can i ask something,people say it puts strain on the memory controller,are these boards with all the space for more ram not designed to cope with the extra ram if needed,seems pointless otherwise to me.

The motherboards may have a lot of options for the memory - but with current generation systems the memory controller is actually on the CPU. So when you run many sticks of RAM, it still puts a lot of strain on the memory controller on the CPU - even if you have a fancy motherboard.

I think he was talking in terms of overclocking capability.

They will definitely work at stocks settings, but adding more memory sticks may limit the overclocking potential of your CPU, memory, etc.

Quite right - if you are running four sticks at 1333MHz and you are not overclocking the CPU (or CPU memory controller)- then everything should be fine. However, it is when you start overclocking the CPU and/or overclocking the memory controller (to hit rated RAM speeds like 1600MHz+) where having four sticks can be a problem and start limiting things and make achieveing a good overclock more fiddly.

If you have the option of 2x4GB or 4x2GB and they are about the same price (which they are if you are buying new) then I would certainly go for 2x4GB for these reasons, as well as the ability to easily add more RAM in the unused slots if it is required in the future.

 

[dazzerd]

The argument against it being an extra strain on the memory controller is null imo if you are using sandy bridge.

I can appreciate there being extra strain on p55 or x58 as most people raise the bclk to overclock but on sandy bridge the bclk is locked for all intents and purposes and you are just raising multiplier ratio as such the only extra strain on the memory controller is the extra modules and as these boards are designed to run with all modules full it makes no difference.

On the other hand with p55 you could add 4 modules and run it at base bclk but to overclock you increase the bclk; the extra strain presents itself here. The argument being that it was easier to overclock with 2 modules on these platforms because of the aggregated effect of out of spec bclk and full modules. As above this is null with Sandy bridge.

To the OP unless you plan on upgrading to 16gb in the future I would go for whatever is cheaper.

 

[Yellowbeard]

The argument against it being an extra strain on the memory controller is null imo if you are using sandy bridge.

Actually no, it isn't. At stock or OCed, 4 modules will consume 2x the power of 2 modules which means more strain on the IMC, more power consumed from the MOBO, and more heat.

This is not to say that 4 modules will necessarily kill off a CPU or MOBO faster than 2 but, it is in fact more wear and tear and heat. When module densities allow, 2 modules is better than 4, 3 is better than 6.

 

[gurusan]

In terms of performance, the two configurations are the same.

In my experience current 4GB density sticks are not quite as fast as 2GB sticks.

However as stated the 4GB sticks are cooler overall and also the newer ones do well under 1.6V which is nice for Sandy Bridge.

Here's my g.skill 1600MHz CL8 kit at 1.51V. Not bad results for stock settings.

 

[dazzerd]

Actually no, it isn't. At stock or OCed, 4 modules will consume 2x the power of 2 modules which means more strain on the IMC, more power consumed from the MOBO, and more heat.

This is not to say that 4 modules will necessarily kill off a CPU or MOBO faster than 2 but, it is in fact more wear and tear and heat. When module densities allow, 2 modules is better than 4, 3 is better than 6.

Well that's basically what I said. I'm suggesting that on Sandybridge it should be no harder to overlclock using 4 instead of 2 modules as the extra strain is still within spec. Whereas running 200bclk on p55 with 4 modules is running way out of spec.

I'm just speaking from experience using my 875k; as I keep bclk at stock and raise multi it makes no difference whether I run 2 or 4 modules I always reach the same speed for a given voltage. However if I lock multi and change blck only I can reach a higher bclk using 2 dimms rather than 4 for any given voltage.

 

[Spook187]

Sound fellas,my pc is not oc so i'll be fine with filling up the slots