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What is the performance difference between 2x4GB and 4x2GB?

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:19 am
by Kaos Kid
If your mobo has 4 memory slots, what is the advantage of running two 4GB sticks compared to four 2GB sticks since both total 8GB? Thanks!

Re: What is the performance difference between 2x4GB and 4x2

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:44 pm
by Major_A
Typically the more RAM you have the looser the timings (i.e. 2X4GB = 11-11-11-28 vs 4X2GB = 12-14-12-32). Real world results are minimal with the faster timing RAM unless you're running an AMD APU. The other issue is lowered stability but it isn't as bad is it was in the DDR and DDR2 days.

Re: What is the performance difference between 2x4GB and 4x2

Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:44 am
by Apoptosis
You always want to go with the least modules possible... It will save you power and lower the heat in your system. It also reduces the chance you'll run into less stability issues and of course there are fewer things to go bad.

I've run 2x8GB in my system for 1.5 years and have never looked back.