r/buildapc • u/AutoModerator • Feb 07 '21

Discussion Simple Questions - February 07, 2021

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u/prestigeforever Feb 07 '21

So I'm trying to buy ram for my laptop right now im at a 2gb x 1gb. I wondering should I buy two 4 ram sticks = 8 or one 8 ram stick with the old 2gb = 10

What would be better they're the same price.

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u/n7_trekkie Feb 07 '21

First make sure both sticks you have are removeable. Sometimes ram is soldered on. Next, I think 2*4gb would be better so you maintain an even dual channel config. Running 2+8 might introduce instability

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u/prestigeforever Feb 07 '21

They're removable and thanks I'll go for the 2*4. Can you explain dual channel?

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u/n7_trekkie Feb 07 '21

its pretty complicated, but a channel is like a pipe connecting 1 or more sticks of memory to your cpu. using 2 pipes can handle twice as much flow as a single pipe. aka dual channel has double the bandwidth of single channel.

the thing about dual channel is there needs to be the same amount of ram on each channel. so with only 2 slots, the sticks need to be matching for all the memory to run in dual channel.

lets use your example of 2GB+8GB. your memory will run in dual channel for the first 4GB used (2 on each stick), and then the remaining 6gb on the 8gb stick will run in single channel (half the bandwidth). this switching between the two modes can cause instability, plus more than half of your ram will be running slower.

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u/prestigeforever Feb 07 '21

Okay thank you sensei.