4 Sticks Of Ram Vs 2 Reddit, Aesthetics. What is your workload? Are you running quad channel on a HEDT/Server platform? 2 vs 4 sticks is an entirely different conversation if we're talking about a platform with more than 2 memory channels. I need to have 128GB RAM. 2 sticks are cheaper per GB anyway so I don't understand why you need to run 4 sticks in the first place unless you already have the 2 sticks previously. The more sticks you have, the more difficult it is to get them running at high speeds. Sep 17, 2024 · Unsure if 2 or 4 RAM sticks are better? This guide explains the impact on performance, stability, and cost. Aug 31, 2025 · Filling all slots puts more strain on the CPU's memory controller The biggest issue with running four sticks of RAM on a motherboard that supports dual-channel memory is stability. . Edit: sorry I only answered half your questions. Feb 6, 2020 · question is, is it better to have MORE of the smaller sticks to make the same over all, or to have fewer to make the same? also would there be much jump in performance from say 2666-3000mhz to 3200? for the same ram in total. If your 4 sticks are running at their advertised speed, there's no point in swapping to 2 sticks. Reply reply GT_Hades • Feb 6, 2020 · For gaming I have seen benchmarks showing 4 vs 2 can see improvements with 4 on both AMD and Intel. We have evaluated the best RAM for gaming and different tasks, such as video editing and graphics-heavy applications. Onn also offers less powerful options such as the Onn 4K Streaming Device and Onn Full HD Streaming Stick but we suggest staying away from those. It means only 2 of the 4 are short connected and 2 slots are connected with a worse signal path. Umm I've 16gb ram on laptop, multiple chrome windows with dozens of tabs, office apps and a handful of other programs open, on an SSD, and games can be impacted by these running programs, although rarely. Stability: It can be easier to stabilize higher frequencies and tighter timings with two sticks of RAM compared to four. If you want say 16 gigs of ram is it better to use 2x8 or 4x4? 2 sticks is almost always better. It depends on lots of factors and is different from RAM to RAM and system to system, it's not going to be discernable during normal use in any case. Reply reply pllllllllllllllllll • I'd recommend sticking to two memory sticks if you can for a different reason though: memory topology. Most motherboards have a 'daisy-chain' memory topology, meaning trace length and therefore latency to slots 2 and 4 will differ than 1 and 3. Generally, most 8GB sticks are single rank and most 16GB are dual rank. 4 sticks cons: If sticks are dual rank, you get 4 ranks per channel, which is very taxing on the memory controller. And besides, you'd get higher ram frequencies and possibly tighter timings more often than not on 2 sticks vs. Ram is optimized for the kit, a kit of two has tighter timings than a kit of four of identical ram chips because four is harder on the memory controller to run--meaning ram is unstable and will crash if you try to run timings meant for two sticks with four. See my previous comment for more, or watch this video and then this buildzoid video Because in 2023 8/16gb soldered ram is basically the norm in several form factors, and with w11 being a ram hog, awmost every godamn app using electron in a bad implementation, 16gb for work isn't quite enough frequently, so the ram upgrade thing is even less the "right" answer. You can also see that by looking at the RAM's PCB as you'll see chips on both sides on a 16GB stick while only on one side on an 8GB stick. In a general case, I'd normally prefer 2 sticks. on 4 sticks. Just use 2 sticks and you'll be mostly fine. So unless you need to max out the RAM capacity of your board for work purposes or something, it's best to stick to 2 sticks and get whatever is the best price vs performance ram instead (Ryzen 5000 = DDR4 3600 , Ryzen 7000 = DDR5 6000). So utilising 4 DIMMs in one of these motherboards won't have the same potential as 2. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Performance: Two sticks of RAM, also known as dual channel, can provide better performance, particularly for graphics, due to increased bandwidth. Jun 6, 2025 · Why a pair of memory sticks is often the better choice for PC gamers takes a little unpacking, but we're here to give you the low-down on the best memory kits for your system. Dec 30, 2024 · You just buy a single kit, either or two or four sticks. The biggest fighting game tournament in the world returns. Better yet, a mobo with just two slots, but these are virtually extinct outside of ITX. On Ryzen 7000 having 4 sticks kills the performance. On Ryzen 5000 and below you can get better performance with 4, but that's due to single and dual rank sticks, if you had 2 dual rank you'd have the same performance. Only use 4 sticks if you are sure your board can handle 4 sticks since not all boards with 4 dimm slots can stably run 4 sticks all at the same time at a specified speed. Possible clearance issues with huge coolers. Nov 22, 2025 · The following guide compares the Onn 4K Plus vs the Onn 4K Pro to help you determine which Google TV box is best for you. 2 days ago · 4x4Gb vs 2x8Gb vs 1x16Gb ram Test in 6 Games Games: Grand Theft Auto V The Witcher 3 - 02:04 Project Cars - 03:48 Mass Effect Andromeda - 05:40 Rise of the Tomb Raider - 07:31 Far Cry Primal - 09: 192 votes, 247 comments. Get all the details on Evo’s three action-packed days plus the crowning of new World Champions. 2 sticks is almost always better. Choose the perfect RAM setup for your PC! Just use 2 sticks and you'll be mostly fine. The 4 stick vs 2 stick debate stems from a lack of understanding around single vs dual ranked memory. Effectively, a dual-rank 16GB stick is equivalent to 2 single-rank 8GB sticks in the same channel. If you aren't overclocking or even running XMP, then it really doesn't matter to you. However everything I read suggests using 2 for better stability and less likely to have issues reaching rated speeds. The vast majority of desktop mainboards use the daisy chained topology for the RAM DIMMs. Go ahead and fill all the slots, there is no real rule as to whether 2 or 4 sticks is faster these days, and any difference is going to be minuscule. I started a thread on this a while back, I will dig it out. c48ab2, mrje, d8re, ovgc2, xe3zy, wbj9, hwq0q, bgmvzs, gx1pa6, plf2y,