RAM question

[J-Acito]

It's been quite a while since I built my last PC. I'm going to build an Intel G3258 based machine. Do I need to add RAM in pairs or will a single stick of 8GB work?

 

[inachu]

I just bought an i5 not too long ago and the ram slots are different color so that means it can take either.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Most RAM these days run in dual channel, so it is somewhat faster to have 2 matching sticks, but just having one will not be significantly worse for day-to-day usage.

Just remember that if you ever plan to get another stick, it's best to get the exact same stick as before (same brand, same line, same settings, etc).

 

[Cerb]

1-4 sticks will work, they just need to all have the same chip density, and compatible performance settings.

Dual-channel is largely unnecessary with a video card, but can speed up the integrated graphics. For just browsing, email, etc., it shouldn't matter.

 

[schmuckley]

Well..It wold be good to have matching sticks in dual-channel,but your performance won't suffer too badly if you get 1 stick at the time.Just make sure they're the same type of sticks.
PS:Those Pentiums will run RAM as fast as the RAM will go.
I run 2666 on 2600 sticks with mine;daily.
Higher-binned RAM would be a plus.

 

[escrow4]

Hopefully not for gaming. There is no point buying a dual core for gaming in 2014.

 

[Blain]

It's been quite a while since I built my last PC. I'm going to build an Intel G3258 based machine. Do I need to add RAM in pairs or will a single stick of 8GB work?

If I were shopping for high quality memory, I would use the following parameters as a guide...

* DDR3 rated at 1.5v or lower
* DDR3 rated at the lowest CAS I could afford
* DDR3 rated at the highest clock speed I could afford
* Limit the scope of my purchase to G.Skill, Mushkin, Samsung, Corsair XMS or Crucial (non-Ballistix)

While not wavering on the voltage point, I would balance the other issues with my budget.

Remember, my goal is not pure "benchmarking" performance, but simply finding the highest quality memory I can afford. ^_^

The only reason I pay a premium for low latency, high speed, low voltage memory is...
Quality and quality alone.

1.5v is the JEDEC DDR3 voltage standard.
Stay with 1.5v or less if you can afford it..

What he said

 

[ronitbajaj]

I think you should to need to add RAM in pairs.

 

[Seba]

Crucial (non-Ballistix)

Why non-Ballistix?

 

[bononos]

Why non-Ballistix?

Ballistix is the premium category which will be wasted on the Pentium. And depending on the motherboard, you'll have trouble running anything above stock 1333.

 

[Seba]

I don't think that this is the reason (pairing with a cheap CPU), because he posted a quote from another thread.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why non-Ballistix?

Because Ballistix have horrible DOA / failure rates. At least, that was true in the DDR2 days.

I had a kit fail on me, and so did a friend.

 

[Blain]

Why non-Ballistix?

Because Ballistix have horrible DOA / failure rates. At least, that was true in the DDR2 days.

I had a kit fail on me, and so did a friend.

This

Search these forums for "Ballistix" and read some history.
Some may say that's all in the past, but I say there are too many solid memory lines out there to bother with Ballistix.

 

[Cerb]

Ballistix is the premium category which will be wasted on the Pentium. And depending on the motherboard, you'll have trouble running anything above stock 1333.

Not so. Ballistix includes their value RAM, today. IMO, Blain should update his quotes, which were much more truthful in the DDR 2 days. AFAIK, they take regular 1333-1866MHz RAM, put a heatspreader on it for style, and brand it Ballistix, for those with case windows.

 

[Davidh373]

Not so. Ballistix includes their value RAM, today. IMO, Blain should update his quotes, which were much more truthful in the DDR 2 days. AFAIK, they take regular 1333-1866MHz RAM, put a heatspreader on it for style, and brand it Ballistix, for those with case windows.

Yup, Just like Ripjaws X and Z

Value Memory from G.SKill has always been a solid cheap choice for me, but it may or may not be in the future. Processors are being made to take advantage of better RAM these days. So cheeping out may not be a good option anymore.