Which upgrade offers more performance—4x8GB or 2x16GB RAM? Considering a move to 32GB.
Which upgrade offers more performance—4x8GB or 2x16GB RAM? Considering a move to 32GB.
Budget (including currency)
Country: Games, programs or workloads it will support: code, Fortnite, Minecraft, etc. Additional info: current components, need for accessories, previous upgrades, purchase timeline, desired display settings such as resolution and refresh rate, etc.
This discussion centers on a consumer setup using dual-channel DDR4 memory. If you're referring to DDR3 or a different configuration like Threadripper or X299, the results will vary significantly. A 4x8GB configuration can sometimes outperform a 2x16GB setup depending on the specifics. The key factor is whether the memory is single-rank or dual-rank. Dual-rank RAM typically matches the performance of a single-rank setup that runs about 400MHz faster, though it requires more complex handling from both the memory and the motherboard.
For processors like the Ryzen 3000 or 5000, the gap between dual-rank and single-rank memory is around 4000MT/s for dual-rank versus 4800MT/s for single-rank on a capable board. However, for optimal results, a 1:1 ratio with the clock frequency is recommended. A dual-rank configuration generally delivers better speeds, especially between 3600-4000MT/s, making it the preferred choice.
Since most DIMMs released after 2016 are single-rank, while some high-end options like the 3600 CL14-15-15 are dual-rank, you’ll find a mix. Four single-rank sticks match two dual-rank sticks in performance, though some motherboards may handle four single-rank sticks better than four dual-rank ones. Compatibility can be tricky—especially when buying kits from different time periods.
In short: stick with 2x16GB if you’re unsure, go for 4x8GB if you want a speed boost and are comfortable with the risks.
there isn't a significant performance boost, so as mentioned earlier, purchase the 2x16gb drives to allow for upgrades later.
The details about the system specs aren't available to me. I understand Ronothan's perspective too, but since no specifications were provided, we can't confirm exactly what they're using. The suggestion of 2x16GB was made based on the RAM options mentioned and the assumption it's a DDR4 setup.
You have an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor paired with an 1660 Super graphics card and 8GB of RAM.
If it doesn't POST it's an incompatibility between the sticks themselves. Everything will still work, you can test each set individually and it should function just fine, but together not so much.