2x8GB vs 1x8GB + 2x4GB?

[Boeing77W]

Hi all,

Currently I have 1 stick of Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600 (black) and I wish to upgrade to 16GB. My mobo has 4 slots but I only bought 1x8 and not 2x4 because I initially wanted to get a motherboard that only had 2 slots.

Right now I'm thinking of buying a matching 8GB stick, getting a 2x8 kit and selling my 1x8, or getting a 2x4 kit and adding on to what I already have.

The 2x4 option seems to be good in terms of money and aesthetics, but what I'm not sure of is if the lack of dual-channel memory will make a big difference. I'm aware that dual-channel doesn't impact gaming performance by a lot, but I do occasionally edit video and make music on my PC which is why I'm concerned.

 

[atljsf]

2x4 would be dual channel and that helps system in general, cpu specifically

but it will give you only 8 gbs

which is fine, but if you can put another 8 gbs stick, it is a future proof machine, no bottlenecks possible when gaming for some more years

 

[thx1138v2]

Right now I'm thinking of buying a matching 8GB stick, getting a 2x8 kit and selling my 1x8, or getting a 2x4 kit and adding on to what I already have.

"I'm thinking of buying a matching 8GB stick" - that may or may not work. RAM is sold in kits because the modules are tested together.

"getting a 2x8 kit and selling my 1x8" - that's your best option

"getting a 2x4 kit and adding on to what I already have" - so you would end up with a 1 X 8GB plus 2 X 4GB, correct? That will disable your dual channel since all RAM has to be accessed with the same settings and this may not work at all. The money and aesthetics won't matter at all if it doesn't work.

 

[clarkjd]

Getting two unmatched sticks of ram, even same brand and speed, especially if not manufactured at the same time, to work is problematical at best, impossible at worst. You could try, and if it works you are home free. If it doesn't work, you could always return the new stick and then get a 2x8 matching kit.

 

[Boeing77W]

"getting a 2x4 kit and adding on to what I already have" - so you would end up with a 1 X 8GB plus 2 X 4GB, correct? That will disable your dual channel since all RAM has to be accessed with the same settings and this may not work at all. The money and aesthetics won't matter at all if it doesn't work.

I guess that technically works but will be slower than dual channel and would probably cost more than getting a 2x8 and selling the 1x8.

"getting a 2x8 kit and selling my 1x8" - that's your best option

I found a kit of blue Vengeance LPs for $100 canadian. If I could sell my 1x8 for $40-50 canadian I'm pretty sure that's a better deal than the other options.

 

[atljsf]

sounds great, and new always is better!