RAM upgrade - 16 > 32Gb - Best practice?

[woodson75]

I'm looking to upgrade my machine from 16 > 32GB of memory. Important specs. are as follows:
i7 4790
Asus H97M-Plus
GeForce GT730 2GB DDR3

The machine is purely for development, so runs the following types of heavy workloads every day:
Visual Studio
Multiple VMs
SQL
Photoshop
GIT repositories

Currently it has 2 x 8Gb sticks in it (don't have the exact specs to hand this second), but my query is this - Am I better off trying to find two more 8Gb sticks which the exact same specs, or should I start from "scratch" and get a 4 x 8Gb kit? Or, should I get 2 x 16Gb sticks (possible???).

Many thanks for any advice!

 

[manddy123]

You're better off getting 4x8GB or 2x16GB,
Unfortunately, there's no certain proof that the new RAM will work properly with your older one.

If your mobo has 4 slots for RAM and both support Dual Channel and you can find a 4sticks kit for your RAMs, IMO that'd be the best option, so all of them would work in dual channel.

If you can't find a 4sticks kit, IMO you're better off getting 2x16GB,

 

[Rogue Leader]

If you can find an identical pair of memory sticks (brand model etc) then they "should work".

But your best bet? Replace with 2x16gb kit.

There is no performance advantage to 4x8gb if you were wondering. It all only runs in dual channel.

 

[woodson75]

Yes the mobo supports Dual Channel Memory Architecture.

In what, if any, ways is a pair of 16Gb sticks better than 4 x 8Gb? (Although the former seems to be pretty rare over here in NZ!)

 

[Rogue Leader]

Yes the mobo supports Dual Channel Memory Architecture.

In what, if any, ways is a pair of 16Gb sticks better than 4 x 8Gb? (Although the former seems to be pretty rare over here in NZ!)

Mainly because its cheaper usually to buy. also with a bit of space between them they will run cooler should you be doing some memory intensive work.

Its more so the fact there is no performance advantage to 4x8gb.

 

[woodson75]

Thanks both for the helpful replies.

As I said, 16Gb sticks over here look virtually unattainable, so I'll probably opt for 4 x 8GB. One final query - are two identical 2 stick, 16Gb kits ok, or should I specifically hunt for a 4 x 8Gb kit?

 

[Rogue Leader]

Thanks both for the helpful replies.

As I said, 16Gb sticks over here look virtually unattainable, so I'll probably opt for 4 x 8GB. One final query - are two identical 2 stick, 16Gb kits ok, or should I specifically hunt for a 4 x 8Gb kit?

If you can't get a 2x16gb kit then I would look for the identical 2x8gb kit to match what you have now (hopefully to save you money). If not then a 4x8gb kit is the best way. Worst case then you need to buy 2 2x8gb kits.

 

[woodson75]

Thanks again.