Which is best? 4+4 GB or 4+8 GB of RAM?
I have a 7 year-old Dell Vostro 270 PC with Intel core i5-3470 3.2GHz. It only has 4GB of DDR3 and I have been running out recently. So, which would give me the best performance?:
Option 4+4: Adding another stick of 4GB to give 8GB in total (presumably with the memory being used in Dual-channel mode)
OR
Option 4+8: Adding a stick of 8GB to give 12GB in total?
If I go with Option 4+8, will any of the memory be used in dual-channel mode? If not, will it allow all 12GB to be used in single-channel mode? If so, would it be better to have 12GB of slower memory or 4+4 GB of fast memory?
Thank you
Option 4+4: Adding another stick of 4GB to give 8GB in total (presumably with the memory being used in Dual-channel mode)
OR
Option 4+8: Adding a stick of 8GB to give 12GB in total?
If I go with Option 4+8, will any of the memory be used in dual-channel mode? If not, will it allow all 12GB to be used in single-channel mode? If so, would it be better to have 12GB of slower memory or 4+4 GB of fast memory?
Thank you
A dual-channel mode will not work but 12GB of RAM is still more than 8GB of RAM even if the operations will be a bit slower. However, I recommend using the same sizes.
4+8 == Trouble...
Whatever you choose, only use 1x size of RAM stick + you'll avoid many problems.
Whatever you choose, only use 1x size of RAM stick + you'll avoid many problems.
There's no reason not to use 4+8, the controller embedded in the CPU splits it into regions so dual channel will be used for the first 8GB (4GB of each) and the 4GB left over will be single channel. You will find white papers from Intel saying to keep it balanced but their "proof" is the STREAM benchmark which is designed to test memory bandwidth. Real apps behave more like SPECint and the performance hit of unbalanced memort is minimal for that.
There is a reason why memory companies sell sets of 2 identical rams...
ASKER
So folks, andyalder has stated that if I were to use the 4+8GB option then the first 8GB would be used in a dual-channel mode. Those of you who are advising against this course of action, are you saying that you believe that this is not true?
Thank you
Thank you
>There is a reason why memory companies sell sets of 2 identical rams..
Yes, it's so they make more profit.
Yes, it's so they make more profit.
For best results make sure the specs on each stick match. .If they don't dual channel mode may not work as well or at all.. This is the primary reason vendors provide 2 packs. Newer Mobos and chip sets can support flex mode, which allows for different dram sizes. However, Interleave mode and symmetric mode require the same size.
In any case, the speed will always clock down to the slowest dram for dual or single channel.
Here is a good explanation: https://www.compuram.de/blog/en/single-dual-and-multi-channel-memory-modes/
In any case, the speed will always clock down to the slowest dram for dual or single channel.
Here is a good explanation: https://www.compuram.de/blog/en/single-dual-and-multi-channel-memory-modes/
I will repeat what I already said. Since the MB is 7 years old, the dual-channel mode probably will not work.
You were also asking about performance... The answer is that 12GB of RAM is still more than 8GB of RAM even if the operations will be a bit slower.
It might be ok to use it even if this is not recommend, however, we don't know what hardware you use so it's difficult to guess how this will work, therefore, I recommend using the same sizes. If you do it, you won't make a mistake.
You were also asking about performance... The answer is that 12GB of RAM is still more than 8GB of RAM even if the operations will be a bit slower.
It might be ok to use it even if this is not recommend, however, we don't know what hardware you use so it's difficult to guess how this will work, therefore, I recommend using the same sizes. If you do it, you won't make a mistake.
ASKER
How do I know if my motherboard supports flex mode? It's a Dell PC so I doubt the motherboard is an off-the-shelf one.
Is it the motherboard or the processor that determines whether the RAM can be used in flex mode?
Thanks
Is it the motherboard or the processor that determines whether the RAM can be used in flex mode?
Thanks
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best is to install 8+8 GB - no problems then, and ram is maximised.( but it costs a bit more)
It's not really that old, processor was released Q2'12 and flex mode dates back to 2004. Just because you can't set it in BIOS does not mean you don't have it on by default. CPU has two memory channels so I doubt Dell wired both DIMM sockets to one.
4+4
8+8
16+16