FX 8320 with one or two sticks of RAM

[j_j_montez]

I will be building a new computer that will temporarily be my gaming machine before being used as a Plex server/encoder. I will be using an 8320 since it is the best value at that range for video encoding and other multi-core applications. I would like to start off with 8GB or RAM, but I would like to have the option of maxing out my RAM in the future. I want to know if anyone knows for certain if starting off with one 8GB stick will impede my gaming or video encoding performance compared to two 4GB sticks. I know the APUs benefit greatly from dual channel but I haven't heard anything on the FX series. Thanks.

 

[tiny voices]

You will not really lose any performance using a single stick for now.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

You should purchase all your modules at the same time for greater compatibility.

 

[boosted1g]

It is ideal to buy your ram in kits, vs 1 8gb stick now and 1 8 gb of stick latter.
Sometimes you have stability issues if buying differently, but for the most part if you match timings and latency, espically if you match model number you should be fine.

If you can squeze in to budget to get the 16gb kit now that is the best.
If the board has 4 ram slots then get 2x4gb now, and 2x4gb latter (preferably of teh same model). There is a 10-15% performance improvement by using 2x4gb then 1x8gb.

 

[Tradesman1]

On AMD dual channel will help, as AMD has weaker MC's (memory controllers) than do Intel, so every little bit helps

 

[j_j_montez]

You will not really lose any performance using a single stick for now.

That is what I am hoping. Thanks for the input.

I am eventually planning on maxing out the RAM down the road, and when that comes, I will be getting identical RAM. If there will only be a 10%-15% performance drop, I may just get 1x8GB stick, since my gaming bottleneck will most likely be my 750. Thanks for the all the information.