Any difference between two 4GB Ram modules and only one 8GB?

[thierry37]

Maybe a stupid question but I could not find the answer regarding hackintosh.

I have a old souvenir from 10 years ago, when it was always recommended on PC to have 2 identical Ram modules for faster access.
Maybe nowadays, it's completely obsolete thought?

I'm planning the components for a CustoMacMini using the mini ITX board recommended by TonyMac (GA-H61N-USB3 because I can't find the GA-H67N)
It has only 2 slots for the RAM.

Should I only put one 8GB module, to be future-proof, if later I need more?
Or it's better to put two 4GB modules, for a better/faster system?

Thanks for the info.
Thierry.

 

[Clarkie]

I had a quick look and as far as I can see it doesn't seem to matter.

The following article said 2 sticks would run faster and also there's not much point buying one and thinking you'll upgrade later because RAM changes and you wouldn't really want to use two different types of RAM. It says you're better off with 2 4GB sticks of RAM.
http://www.instructables.com/answers/Is ... -or-2-sti/

This article says there is very little or no performance difference. Therefore you should just go for what's cheapest unless you want to upgrade using the same type of RAM later.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/295 ... icks-stick

Personally, if I had plans to upgrade to 16GB within a few months I'd buy 1 8GB stick. Otherwise I'd just go for the cheapest.

I don't know if it's any different with a Hackintosh?

 

[TwoSheds]

It depends on the number of free slots and what you want to max out.
8 gb lets aim for a 32 gb max supported one day.
vs 16 or something.

 

[thierry37]

Thanks Clarkie and TwoSheds for the answer and references.

I'm building a Mini with mini ITX board. Only 2 slots.

I was running on 4GB until last April on iMac 20" C2D 2.4GHz
I guess the 8GB will be enough. Not really planning to upgrade this hack mini to 16GB or 32GB soon or later.

If there is very little difference of performances (what I thought too), I'll go for the cheapest = one 8GB Corsair XMS3. (which is only few euros difference, anyway.)

Thanks a lot !

 

[clinton81]

Me personally would go with the 8 gig stick as that mobo will take upto 16 gb of Ram so 2 x 8gb will max it out, theres nothing more irritating than having 2 x 4gb sticks hanging around after a memory upgrade to 2 x8gb and would be a waste of money to.
Performance wise you wouldnt really notice any.

 

[clinton81]

? H61n-usb3 mobo please keep this in your mind when buying the Ram

Dual channel memory architecture
? Support for DDR3 1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules
? Support for non-ECC memory modules

This is specific to that motherboard

 

[thierry37]

Thanks.

I guess I'm good with this one :
[amazon-de]http://www.amazon.de/dp/B006XB56VI[/amazon-de]
Corsair XMS Arbeitspeicher 8GB (1333MHz, 240-polig, CL9) DDR3 RAM-kit

If there is very little difference of performances (what I thought too), I'll go for the cheapest = one 8GB Corsair XMS3. (which is only few euros difference, anyway.)

My bad, it's cheaper with 2x4GB. [amazon-de]http://www.amazon.de/dp/B003N8GVUY[/amazon-de]
Just 7 euros difference. Let see when I order all.

 

[clinton81]

2 x 4gb will be fast i have 2 hacks 1 with 8 gb Ram and 1 with 16Gb ram theres not really that much difference between them if that helps any more i wont be doin another 16 gb build anyway waste of money most games and programes will only use 4 so the rest is just for showing off with lol