Review of a 290 CHF (about 320 USD) project without a GPU
Review of a 290 CHF (about 320 USD) project without a GPU
Splitting RAM kits isn't advisable. Individual sticks outside a bundle often clash. That's one concern. Another point is the SSD size—it's compact, but with a limited budget, options are few. A 1Tb drive would be preferable without breaking the bank. Lastly, a GPU budget is tight, so only affordable iGPUs fit. Under 500 you're restricted to basic iGPU builds. If splitting RAM is necessary, better invest in a 2x8Gb package for 16Gb total. Otherwise, the project suits your requirements and budget. The CPU remains the top choice.
Hello
@35below0
Thanks for the reply! It seems you're suggesting using two 8 GB sticks instead of a single stick, which is what we refer to as Dual Channel memory. I used to think it was just a method for handling one stick at a time, which actually leads to lower performance.
I can go with a 2x8 GB setup, even though it's more costly overall. I'm sure the extra 15 CHF (about 16.40) he'd have to pay is worth it.
Regarding the SSD, the Kingston A400 isn't the top choice, but it's not my concern since it's not my computer or my budget. However...
Do you mean a 1TB HDD or a 1TB SSD? I already have a 1TB HDD at home, but I've also heard that SSDs are getting more affordable compared to older HDDs. If he were to choose a 1TB SSD, I'd be willing to look for something else to finish the project. I have time to discuss this with him today.
Thanks a lot for your assistance. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know.
The issue lies in purchasing kits containing 2 or 4 sticks, which are actually tested and verified to function properly. When identical RAM sticks are combined, they often fail to work together or operate at the advertised speed. Many users still opt for extra RAM, but it frequently doesn’t perform as expected or meets the required speed. The optimal solution is usually replacing the old RAM with a new one. If you and your companion split a kit, each receives a stick that’s likely to cause issues if mixed with others. It’s best to keep them separate unless you’re certain you’ll use only one stick. In such cases, a 2x8 kit offers dual-channel performance and speed benefits. However, since you plan to use half of it later, mixing the 16GB stick could be problematic. For now, consider a 1TB SSD—your friend already has one, but it’s too small. I recommend using that drive for Windows and purchasing a new 1TB SSD for gaming and other needs. Regarding HDDs, they’re generally more affordable in Europe than in the US, though they may be slower; they still provide ample storage. Here’s what I suggest:
OS drive – Kingston A400
Games & personal files – Crucial P3 – [link]
Possible HDD (2-6TB) – Toshiba P300 – [link]
Feel free to ask if you need further assistance.
Hello
@35below0
Thanks for the advice. However, I discovered something about my friend: he mentioned there was a quantity discount when he purchased the SSD, which meant he received two disks, one of which he never used for... Well, I'm not thinking about it, so it's not my issue.
Since the disks are identical, I wonder if I could opt for a RAID 0 setup instead, allowing him to achieve a1TB storage with improved speed. If I were him, I would choose a 1TB SSD like I did for my computer, but make better use of what we already have and avoid letting it sit unused for years.
Otherwise, thanks for the guidance on the RAM sticks. Actually, I faced a similar issue once with an older machine that had two 8GB HyperX Fury 1600MHz DDR3 and one 8GB Patriot 1600MHz DDR3. Surprisingly, after removing the slower Patriot stick, the performance improved significantly. This makes more sense now.
Another thing I want to note: anyone planning a RAID 0 setup should be aware it increases the risk of data loss. It's something to keep in mind, but my friend stores his personal data on Google Drive—so the actual storage size is probably just a few megabytes. Therefore, I'm unsure if it would be better to use RAID 1 instead, offering easier management and extra security, even if the performance boost from RAID 0 seems excessive.
Once again, thanks for your support, and have a great day.