Yes, please fill all memory slots.
Yes, please fill all memory slots.
I’m at the beginning of researching components for a new build. I have a specific concern about RAM configuration—should I use two 16Gb sticks or four 8Gb sticks? The price difference doesn’t matter to me; what matters is how effectively the system uses the available memory. I’m also curious if one setup offers any performance benefits over the other, though that’s not a major priority for me. I’m considering DDR5 memory in this situation.
Unless your system includes a chip and board that back quad channel memory, those four sticks won't offer much gain. When handling database tasks, the additional bandwidth from four sticks compared to two might help, though more sticks usually slow things down because of controller limits. Still, with DDR5 technology, the controller performance is more important, so quad channel support stays the main constraint.
TL;DR: For DDR5, opt for two DIMMs whenever feasible. The situation is more complex, but key points include weaker memory designs and generally lower speeds—often around 4000MT/s or less, which is worse than DDR4. Some brands like ASUS have managed it, though it still isn’t ideal for most users. In the past, 4x8GB worked better on DDR4 than 2x16GB mainly due to memory rank arrangements. Higher ranks improve performance per clock, but gains slow down after a certain point (DDR4 vs DDR5 differences). Running two 16GB sticks in DDR4 was more reliable than trying to squeeze four 8GB sticks together. Single-rank setups were still common for a long time because they kept controller workload manageable and allowed dual-ranking, even if it meant lower top speeds. For most users, dual rank offers the best balance now, especially with modern Intel and Ryzen chips that handle it well.**
Are they offering fake RGB sticks for DDR5 HET? It’s a solid reason to fill all four slots just because it gives a cool look.
Thank you all for your quick replies. I really appreciate RONTHAN## for clarifying the details. As mentioned, my focus will be on video editing, so I’ll be working at double speed. I hope tech professionals discuss these aspects more often, or maybe Linus could give a talk about it—people might have similar questions in their minds.