RAM 2x16GB vs 8x8GB.. any suggestions?

[sirrah]

Edit... umphh... title should say 2x16 vs 4x8 obviously :P. Can't change it now

 

 

 

So, I really need to upgrade my 16GB RAM as I can clearly see it's bottlenecking my pc's performance

 

Question now is...

 

Should I go for the budget solution and stick in another 2x8GB (for €60,-) or go for 2x16GB (€110,-) and try to sell the RAM sticks I have now?

 

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. I use my system pretty much exclusively for DCS (rest of my system specs in my sig)

Edited December 16, 2019 by sirrah

[BitMaster]

Can you list what kind of RAM you have ?

 

use this tool if you dont know how,..and make a screenshot or such

 

http://www.softnology.biz/files/thphn160.zip

 

Taiphoon Burner, a de facto standard tool to read your RAM. Dont mind the other options it has, you only needs its detailed listing capabilities.

 

The more speedy and tight latency your RAM is the harder or next to impossible it will be to match another kit.

 

IF you can sell it for fair money, DO THAT, it is A LOT safer than trying to match another kit, that up front.

[sirrah]

Can you list what kind of RAM you have ?

 

use this tool if you dont know how,..and make a screenshot or such

 

http://www.softnology.biz/files/thphn160.zip

 

Taiphoon Burner, a de facto standard tool to read your RAM. Dont mind the other options it has, you only needs its detailed listing capabilities.

 

The more speedy and tight latency your RAM is the harder or next to impossible it will be to match another kit.

 

IF you can sell it for fair money, DO THAT, it is A LOT safer than trying to match another kit, that up front.

Right now I have this set: Skill Aegis F4-3000c16d

 

If I would go for 4x8 I'd buy the same set again. I don't know however, how inefficient 4x8 is versus 2x16.

 

I'm not sure how good or bad my current set would sell on the 2nd hand market, but I don't expect it'll go for more than €40,-

[HankCzinaski]

Personally I feel 16 GB is enough. But if you really want to upgrade, go for another 2x8. Just make sure it's the same set.

 

Keep in mind that DDR5 comes out in like two years.

[sirrah]

Personally I feel 16 GB is enough. But if you really want to upgrade, go for another 2x8. Just make sure it's the same set.

 

Keep in mind that DDR5 comes out in like two years.

 

I checked the task manager during several more demanding missions (like Snowfox and Pendulum) and it was at constant 100% usage. Hence my thought that I need an upgrade

[Pilotasso]

Personally I feel 16 GB is enough. But if you really want to upgrade, go for another 2x8. Just make sure it's the same set.

 

Keep in mind that DDR5 comes out in like two years.

 

If you go online 16GB is not enough anymore.

[JUICE-AWG]

Unless your or planning to add another 2x16 for a total of 64, 4x8 is best!

[Exorcet]

If you go online 16GB is not enough anymore.

Even offline I'd recommend 32. Flying my own missions I can exceed 16 GB. My next DCS PC if going to have 64 if I can get it.

 

 

I can't say much to the topic other than I'd recommend 32 GB min these days unless you fly the most basic of missions.

[sirrah]

Went for the extra 2x8 option, which will get me to 32GB (should be good for at least another year with that ;))

 

Thanks for all replies guys! :thumbup:

[BitMaster]

2x 16GB or 4x8GB is both dual rank and thus a good layout.

 

if you were to go for 16GB, then a 4x4GB was better in terms of speed than 2x8GB. The 2x8GB has the option of adding 2 more modules with the downside of being single rank until you add another 2 modules, then it would become a dual rank setup as well.

 

Now lets see if all four will do XMP and if they do it, if they will BSOD once or twice a week or even day. That is the hurdle to take, XMP and stability with mixed kits.

 

Let's hope the best.

[chrisgrind]

my understanding as that 4 sticks is slower than 2. So if you can go 2x16 in one hit, do that.

[BitMaster]

my understanding as that 4 sticks is slower than 2. So if you can go 2x16 in one hit, do that.

 

They are more tricky do get working but not slower, T-Topology vs. Daisy-Chained layout on motherboard. What matters is the amount of Ranks filled.

[sirrah]

They are more tricky do get working but not slower, T-Topology vs. Daisy-Chained layout on motherboard. What matters is the amount of Ranks filled.

But is it safe to assume it'll work just fine with 4 identical RAM modules?

I already ordered them and they'll arrive today :P

[BitMaster]

The less time has passed between purchase between the kits the more likely but there is no guaranty it will work. A kit of 4 is a matched pair of 4 that have been tested to run in dual and quad channel config.

 

Vendors sometimes use diffwerent IC's on different batches, so it could be that 1 kit is Samsung and the other is a Micron kit, sometimes both are on the shelf same time, that is why you buy 4 as a kit and not 2 kits of 2 from the same booth, despite the boxes look the same.

 

The devil is in the detail here, more than anywhere else.

 

If they dont run in XMP together with the current kit then send them back and get a refund, sell your old kit and get a kit of 4.

 

What can happen is that they will do XMP but throw off some BSOD every other day, sometimes not for a week and then 2 BSODs on one day, that is the nasty part of RAM.

Even if they pass each and any RAM test, they must run without BSOD for weeks and weeks.

 

I can tell you that mine ran at 3200 CL14 for 4 weeks fine, pass any test and thzen in week #5 I got 1 or 2 BSODs each day. Reverted back to 3000CL14 and no BSOD in 3 months. It's a matched kit of 4, ran flawless at rated XMP 3600CL16 in my other board for a year but refuse any higher than 3000 in this Z370 board of mine in sig. Tho I do blame the board and not my specific kit.

Just want to outline how tricky RAM can be when it comes to throw off some BSOD or other bad habits.

 

50/50 sirrah...you will find out.

[Hawkeye_UK]

Defo agree that 16GB is not enough - standard is now 32GB and i'd also recommend install is placed on SSD (m2 even better).

 

£"GB is definitely needed for online play these days especially servers that unlock all of DCS and have a complex ground war.

[blkspade]

In my experience it seems GSkill would sooner discontinue a series/sku, as opposed to randomly switching ICs down the line on a given sku.

[sirrah]

In my experience it seems GSkill would sooner discontinue a series/sku, as opposed to randomly switching ICs down the line on a given sku.

:shocking:

You lost me there. Did you say GSkill is good or bad? :D

 

(didn't have any issues over the last year with my current set)

[blkspade]

:shocking:

You lost me there. Did you say GSkill is good or bad? :D

 

(didn't have any issues over the last year with my current set)

 

Well it wasn't an explicit statement of either, but it implies that there should be above average safety in buying the same kit at 2 different times. That said GSkill is a brand I prefer, for RAM.

[JamesRothwell]

On the PG Blueflag server I get up to around 20-22Gb of RAM usage.

2 sticks is slightly better than four sticks.

 

If you've got an AMD processor go for the higher clock rates, if you've got an Intel processor target 3200mhz and the lowest and tightest timings you can get. I paired my 8700k with a TridentZ 3200mhz CL14 32gb kit and it has performed very well.

[sirrah]

Well it wasn't an explicit statement of either, but it implies that there should be above average safety in buying the same kit at 2 different times. That said GSkill is a brand I prefer, for RAM.

I bought the sets with almost 1,5year in-between.

 

Would it be wise to pair the modules I bought back than, in slot 1A and 2A? (and place the new ones in 1B and 2B). Or wouldn't that matter?

 

 

(I recently found out that when I build my pc, I placed both modules in 1A and 1B :P. I just didn't knew it'd matter)

[Tailhook]

More sticks mean more stress on the CPU memory controller. Best to go bigger size per stick so 2x16gb.

[sirrah]

More sticks mean more stress on the CPU memory controller. Best to go bigger size per stick so 2x16gb.

 

Already went for the budget solution: an extra 2x8

 

So, is it wise to place the old ones in 1A, 2A and the new ones in 1B, 2B?

 

(I have both the old modules in 1A and 1B because I didn't know it was relevant. These two modules are blocked by my cpu cooler fan, so if it doesn't matter I'd rather place the new ones in 2A and 2B and leave the cooler fan installed)

[BitMaster]

Uaahh, a clear no-go !

 

There is a manual to your motherboard, and you may have heard the "RTFM" thing before :book:

 

Without going into detail, you will have very little chance to get them working that way as a 4-kit beyond 2133MHz, if at all.

 

Second, they way you have it now you are wasting 50% of your bandwidth, you run 64bit bandwidth, with the 2 modules in the proper slots you'd have 128bit and twice the bandwidth/speed.

 

- 2 modules setup: 2A + 2B = 128bit ( not 1a + 1b, the circuits dont like that setup )

- 4 modules setup: 1A + 1B first Kit _and_ 2A + 2B second Kit

 

Your Mobo Manual for sure has a page covering all possible configs in detail, follow that.

 

You have to take the cooler off, yes.

[sirrah]

Uaahh, a clear no-go !

 

There is a manual to your motherboard, and you may have heard the "RTFM" thing before :book:

 

Without going into detail, you will have very little chance to get them working that way as a 4-kit beyond 2133MHz, if at all.

 

Second, they way you have it now you are wasting 50% of your bandwidth, you run 64bit bandwidth, with the 2 modules in the proper slots you'd have 128bit and twice the bandwidth/speed.

 

- 2 modules setup: 2A + 2B = 128bit ( not 1a + 1b, the circuits dont like that setup )

- 4 modules setup: 1A + 1B first Kit _and_ 2A + 2B second Kit

 

Your Mobo Manual for sure has a page covering all possible configs in detail, follow that.

 

You have to take the cooler off, yes.

 

Thank you for telling me what I already found out. Maybe someone else can actually answer my question, regarding installing 4 modlues of same brand and type, but bought with a 1,5 year interval.

 

 

Fwiw; In my life I have developed several skills, both professionally as from hobbies. Building pc's is not one of them. Despite, in an ettempt to even further expand my knowledge, I tried to build my own pc. This made me have to do a lot of research and reading, mostly about things I didn't have any knowledge of. While doing so, I mis-read or just missed the page of my motherboard manual where this particular info was explained.

So, thanks again for pointing out that I had to "RTFM". That was really a helpfull addition in my venture to knowing absolutely everthing there is to know...

[BitMaster]

I didnt wanna sound rude or put you in a bad light.

 

The manual has pics/ scheme layout printed that makes it easier to understand with 1 look than 1000 words can do.

 

Usually ( there are rare exceptions ) you populate the 2nd and 4th slot with modules if you only have 2. The reason for 2nd and 4th is signal integrity. If you put two modules in Slot 1 and 3 it may or may not work, 2 and 4 is to be preferred.

 

If you have 4 modules, use all 4, fairly simple and easy.... Just in your special case with 2 kits, it is advised to keep the kits on one channel each, Kit#1 does Channel 1 and Kit #2 serves Channel 2, then your chances are far higher it will work as if you shuffle them and use a mixed layout with 1 Channel populated with 1 module from Kit #1 and 1 module from Kit #2. That has less chances to work and is not recommended. Keep the kits together, mark them with a pencil if needed. 1 matched kit per channel.

 

If they dont boot, change the kit's channel, move kit#1 to channel #2 and vice versa. That can help but if it comes that far chances are high they wont run properly.

 

In any case, when you missed that page you left half the bandwidth on the table. That's when I thought pointing to RTFM could have saved you there but I do get the point of too much new stuff in too little time, no worries, I wanna help and not accuse. :)

Edited December 19, 2019 by BitMaster