RAM 16GB (4x4) vs (2x8) - any difference?

[mashumk]

Will be doing heavy Photoshop and video work with new build so that's why I want 16gb.

Seems like 16 gigs on 2 sticks would be faster and easier for system to access since the files in RAM would be broken up more across 4 sticks. Or probably it's such a tiny difference in benefit that no human can notice?

Thank you.

 

[theevilsharpie]

There wouldn't be a performance difference. Going with 2x8 would allow you to upgrade your capacity down the road.

 

[jjsbasmt]

2 X 8 for sure for same reason theevilsharpie says. Just curious, are you doing SSD in that new build?

 

[bononos]

Will be doing heavy Photoshop and video work with new build so that's why I want 16gb.

Seems like 16 gigs on 2 sticks would be faster and easier for system to access since the files in RAM would be broken up more across 4 sticks. Or probably it's such a tiny difference in benefit that no human can notice?

Thank you.

That is not always true since the layout of dimms might not represent the actual organization of how memory is accessed.

 

[PingSpike]

Older systems used to have to drop to 2t command rate and in some cases run at a lower speed when using 4 sticks versus 2. I'm actually not sure if newer DDR3 based platforms have the same drawbacks.

 

[mv2devnull]

The Nehalem Xeons drop the (ECC DDR3) memory speed 1333->1066->800 when number of banks (modules) per channel increases 1->2->3. Safety precaution, perhaps?