Single channel vs Dual Channel Memory

[SnarkySinner]

so I'm wondering is it gonna make a difference if i use 1 stick of Kingston Hyper Fury X 16gb DDR4-2400Mhz over let say 2 stick of Kingston Hyper Fury X 2 x 8gb (16gb) DDR4-2400Mhz.

Is it gonna make a major difference in gaming? The reason I'm asking is because price difference including tax + shipping.

[Arya]

It makes very little tangible difference. Single-Channel makes future upgrades easier, since you'll have space free if you want to add more capacity. But since you're fitting 16GB, that's not exactly important or relevant.

[xSOSxHawkens]

It will half your memory speed, but since DDR4 is already so fast you will not notice any actual difference except in specific memor intensive appliucations.

Dual chanel made a bigger impact when memor speed was mesured in hundreds og mhz (DDR 200/333/400) than it does now that its measured in thousands of Mhz...

Total memory bandwidth is cal;culated as Speed x Bus Width

So, DDR4-2400 single chanel is comparable to DDR(x)-1200 dual chanel. Closest direct comparisons would be, slightly slower than dual chanel DDR3-1333 or slightly faster than DDR3-1066, both of which are more than speedy enough for games.


BTW, each chanel is 64 bits wide, so your bandwidtch would be 64*2400 in single chanel, or 128*2400 in dual.

[Arya]

Messaggio originale di xSOSxHawkens:

<SNIP>

Good explanation.

[SnarkySinner]

Messaggio originale di xSOSxHawkens:

It will half your memory speed, but since DDR4 is already so fast you will not notice any actual difference except in specific memor intensive appliucations.

Dual chanel made a bigger impact when memor speed was mesured in hundreds og mhz (DDR 200/333/400) than it does now that its measured in thousands of Mhz...

Total memory bandwidth is cal;culated as Speed x Bus Width

So, DDR4-2400 single chanel is comparable to DDR(x)-1200 dual chanel. Closest direct comparisons would be, slightly slower than dual chanel DDR3-1333 or slightly faster than DDR3-1066, both of which are more than speedy enough for games.


BTW, each chanel is 64 bits wide, so your bandwidtch would be 64*2400 in single chanel, or 128*2400 in dual.

Thing is I am considering getting a MSI B250M Mortar Arctic Motherboard and it has 4 slots for RAM sticks in total. I get what you explained but if i was to use only one for now and then leave the rest for the option to expand the RAM storage in the future once prices drop is that a possiblity i can do?

[Ralf]

Not much really, only 10-20%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58PboimKOwA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGgJ4ivWwp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ou5RVAROw&t=88s

[SnarkySinner]

Messaggio originale di Ralf:

Not much really, only 10-20%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58PboimKOwA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGgJ4ivWwp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ou5RVAROw&t=88s

Hmm seems like the case. But i notice that sometimes either one would have a slightly latency lag happening.

[xSOSxHawkens]

4 slots doesnt mean 4 chanels, just 4 slots.

Yes, you can get one stick now and another matching stick later and have it run in dual chanel.

Then you can get another stick and run three in single chanel, and then another and run four in dual chanel (two pairs, each on a 128bit bus).

[FeilDOW]

I would personally get 2x8gb sticks of ram and you can still upgrade. You do not need 64gb of ram so it's kinda a waste to use single channel with 16gb stick IMO. There will be performance loss that we are seeing with new games.

I'm sure the price difference isn't huge.

[SnarkySinner]

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

I would personally get 2x8gb sticks of ram and you can still upgrade. You do not need 64gb of ram so it's kinda a waste to use single channel with 16gb stick IMO. There will be performance loss that we are seeing with new games.

I'm sure the price difference isn't huge.

Actually it is quite a major price difference. Let me break it down for you...

Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ---> Price: $254.99CDN from Newegg now let's add in taxes (GST 5% = $12.75CDN + QST 9.975% = $25.44CDN) = $293.18CDN total

while

Kingston - FURY 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ---> Price: $218.99CDN from Newegg plus (GST 5%=$10.95CDN + QST 9.975%=$21.84CDN) = $251.78CDN total.

The difference between both in cost is $41.40CDN for me I cannot afford to spend $41.40 extra as I am already paying about $137.96 for a MSI B250M Mortar Arctic motherboard as well which brings me a little over $389.74CDN total for two components in my PC to change from DDR3 not to mention i'm looking at $15.98 in shipping costs.

[FeilDOW]

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104682
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIABDH6D85855

At newegg.ca 2x8gb is cheaper than a single 16gb.

for $10 more i'd go dual channel
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104680

[SnarkySinner]

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104682
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIABDH6D85855

At newegg.ca 2x8gb is cheaper than a single 16gb.

Yeah the thing is the second set of ram sticks don't match my build theme (white & black) and secondly they are way to high for my after market cooler which would be an issue.

Thirdly I'm not ordering both parts till about May 2018 as I am waiting out to see if Samsung holds their word to increase production of RAM and also because I'm tight on funds till then anyways.

[FeilDOW]

Messaggio originale di Raging FP:

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104682
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIABDH6D85855

At newegg.ca 2x8gb is cheaper than a single 16gb.

Yeah the thing is the second set of ram sticks don't match my build theme (white & black) and secondly they are way to high for my after market cooler which would be an issue.

Thirdly I'm not ordering both parts till about May 2018 as I am waiting out to see if Samsung holds their word to increase production of RAM and also because I'm tight on funds till then anyways.

My edit included the 2x8gb hyper X 2400 black for $210, even if you wait I would still recommend dual channel.

[SnarkySinner]

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

Messaggio originale di Raging FP:

Yeah the thing is the second set of ram sticks don't match my build theme (white & black) and secondly they are way to high for my after market cooler which would be an issue.

Thirdly I'm not ordering both parts till about May 2018 as I am waiting out to see if Samsung holds their word to increase production of RAM and also because I'm tight on funds till then anyways.

My edit included the 2x8gb hyper X 2400 black for $210, even if you wait I would still recommend dual channel.

I could do dual channel but that would mean pushing the purchases back even more like past May 2018 also a guy posted videos in the thread to show the difference and it's not exactly major loss 10% to 20%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nSX2taw-Y4

[FeilDOW]

16gb https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104682

2x8gb https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104680

It cost 5% more for 10-20% perfomnace thats cheap fps. It's totally up to you but it's only $10 but if May is your target might as well wait till then to see whats around for cheaper hopefully.

Messaggio originale di Raging FP:

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

My edit included the 2x8gb hyper X 2400 black for $210, even if you wait I would still recommend dual channel.

I could do dual channel but that would mean pushing the purchases back even more like past May 2018 also a guy posted videos in the thread to show the difference and it's not exactly major loss 10% to 20%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nSX2taw-Y4

That vid is from 2014, games that are coming out now are using more bandwidth.

[SnarkySinner]

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

16gb https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104682

2x8gb https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104680

It cost 5% more for 10-20% perfomnace thats cheap fps. It's totally up to you but it's only $10 but if May is your target might as well wait till then to see whats around for cheaper hopefully.

1. yeah that's true. 2. I won't really go above 60fps either way with a screen that runs on 1920 x 1080 @ 60hz refresh rate that cost me about $185CDN when i got it. 3. Yeah that's the better plan, wait and see what happens with pricing for RAM by then.