Can I use a single 8 gb stick of memory?

[SaltyNuts]

Thought I was ordering 4 gb x2 sticks, but ordered 1 stick of 8 gb on accident. I take it I can use this 8 gb stick with this motherboard:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If I'm using Windows 7Home Premium 64 bit?

Thanks!

 

[mikeymikec]

From the link:

"Memory: 4 x DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB; DDR3"

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks mikeymikec, my main thing was making sure there wasn't some funky requirement where I have to run 2 modules rather than 1. Been forever since I built a computer, but I seem to remember something like that in the past. But maybe that was RAMBUS or some crap.

Sounds like 1 module will work. Thanks!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thanks mikeymikec, my main thing was making sure there wasn't some funky requirement where I have to run 2 modules rather than 1. Been forever since I built a computer, but I seem to remember something like that in the past. But maybe that was RAMBUS or some crap.

Sounds like 1 module will work. Thanks!

Once "dual-channel" appeared, I probably wouldn't have thought to use one module.

But I discovered back in 2004 that my old high-school girlfriend in the Bay Area had purchased her computer from a local shop which was slapping them together in small production-runs as we do with our DIY builds here. While I was visiting, I thought she needed more RAM, and I started looking into her computer's innards. They'd sold it to her with one stick of RAM.

Been said enough: it doesn't matter that much for performance. But I still only buy and install 2x kits.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks BonzaiDuck. So there is some material performance difference between 1 stick versus 2x sticks? Crap.

 

[SaltyNuts]

If there is, can I just buy a 4bg stick and slap in there along with the 8? Will that catch most of the performance difference? Is that even possible?

Thanks!

 

[mikeymikec]

For most customers I just put one memory module in. I used to do dual channel where possible, but it's irritating to upgrade a few years later - let's say DDR2-5300 was commonplace/'at a normal price' back when I was building Athlon 64 AM2's, but these days DDR2-6400 is commonplace. If I want to get as much performance out of an Athlon 64 rig these days, it makes sense to use the fastest memory (in an 'every little helps' sense). In which case, I'm removing/wasting two modules rather than one.

Of course for some applications dual channel is handy; if I was building a gaming rig I'd go dual channel by default.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Crap, this is going to be a gaming rig. How much of a performance difference is 1 stick versus 2? Does the 2nd stick have to be the same capacity?

Thanks!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Crap, this is going to be a gaming rig. How much of a performance difference is 1 stick versus 2? Does the 2nd stick have to be the same capacity?

Thanks!

It works like this. In dual-channel mode, you need two of the same size for each pair of dual-channel slots. You can have a 2x8GB in one pair of slots, and a 2x4GB in the other pair, and you'd still have dual channel. But if you use different sized modules in a pair of slots -- no -- it would be in single-channel mode. Anybody can correct me on this, but I'm pretty sure.

As to the difference between single and dual. There may be some very slight difference. There had been a consensus on these forums about that, and the common response is that it isn't much.

I don't see why you wouldn't save some more pennies, get an identical module when you want to pay for it. Or you could get in touch with the reseller right away, and tell him you want to replace the single 8GB module for as 2x4GB kit -- whatever it was that you wanted originally.

It's just a hassle if you made a mistake in an order. Phone calls. Chats. E-mails. RMA request forms -- whatever.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks Duck, much appreciated. Doing some research, I see people mentioning as much as 5 to 7% performance difference - I guess I'll just see how it is and pony up and add another stick of 8gb if necessary - hopefully it will be plenty fast (and I think it will).

 

[RaistlinZ]

No time to cancel your order and get 2x4GB instead?

 

[mikeymikec]

Thanks Duck, much appreciated. Doing some research, I see people mentioning as much as 5 to 7% performance difference - I guess I'll just see how it is and pony up and add another stick of 8gb if necessary - hopefully it will be plenty fast (and I think it will).

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't stretch the budget significantly for maybe up to 10FPS more (being very generous as to what 5-7% might mean).

Also think about how you're likely to upgrade RAM in the future; if you're thinking that you are possibly going to max this board out RAM-wise at some point in its life, then IMO it would make sense to get a single 8GB module in the long run.

One other thought, are the games you're going to play needing 8GB?

 

[Seba]

Dual Channel (instead of Single Channel) will not get you 5-7% performance improvement in games with a dedicated graphics card. More like 0-3%.

You see bigger improvements from Dual Channel if using the integrated graphics card for gaming. But while the increase as a percentage seems impressive, the actual performance remains sub-par and you are much better off with a dedicated graphics card (in which case Dual Channel is almost a non-factor).

Also, you see bigger improvements from Dual Channel (instead of Single Channel) in tasks like video encoding.

For games, keep the 8GB stick.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks fellas. My module had already shipped, so could not replace it with 2x4. So I just ordered another 8 gb stick. I know, I would not have seen the difference, but I would know it was slower than it could be running, and it would bother me. So I just went with another 8 stick. It will help future proof my machine in any event.

Thanks!

 

[Denithor]

You've already ordered so probably too late, just make sure the second stick matches or exceeds the speed/CAS ratings for the old stick, as the pair will run at the lower settings.

IE mixing DDR3-1600 with DDR3-1866, the sticks will both run at DDR3-1600 speed.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks Denithor - I thought that might be the case so I ordered the same exact stick.

Thanks everyone!

 

[papapapapapapapababy]

negligible difference, i always go for 1 stic of the biggest ram i could find, even if my mobo has multiple slots. dont worry.

 

[tweakboy]

Yes, it would be single channel. gl

 

[Throckmorton]

You'll probably benefit from 16gb vs 8gb anyway so it worked out

 

[Seba]

And having two 8GB modules he can test for himself the impact of Dual Channel vs. Single Channel.

 

[DigDog]

wow, nobody obama_yesyoucan.gif ?