This is embarrassing to ask, but my company only sells memory for Macs, so while I can speak the lingo and know the right questions to ask, I don't know the answer to this, LOL.
My computer has four slots and has a maximum of 16GB RAM. I have 3x2GB DDR3 1333 in there right now and one empty slot, so only a whopping 6GB, which is often not enough for when I'm editing videos or even working on large Photoshop files. I end up using way too much virtual memory, the discs spin up and run loud, the programs bog down just enough to make it annoying to me.
I ran Cruical's system scanner to ID my slots and max and all that. One of their configuration suggestions is just buy one 8GB stick and put it in my empty slot, taking it to 14GB. They also state my computer will do better with a matched pair; it does NOT say I will get a benefit from having a quad, but am I safe to assume that two matched pairs (4x4GB) will be the best possible configuration? The quad should be slightly better than, say, just going 2x8GB and leaving two empty slots... yes?
A single 8GB stick is $46 from Crucial.
Looking on Newegg, it seems like 2x8GB and 4x4GB are roughly the same with the 4x4GB kits maybe running slightly higher, but if it's a matter of $5 for a slight performance boost from having a quad, I'll spend the $5. But I'm looking at around $70 for a kit either way I go.
Thoughts? Is it worth it to go all out and snag a quad, or should I just go cheap and get the single 8GB?
My computer has four slots and has a maximum of 16GB RAM. I have 3x2GB DDR3 1333 in there right now and one empty slot, so only a whopping 6GB, which is often not enough for when I'm editing videos or even working on large Photoshop files. I end up using way too much virtual memory, the discs spin up and run loud, the programs bog down just enough to make it annoying to me.
I ran Cruical's system scanner to ID my slots and max and all that. One of their configuration suggestions is just buy one 8GB stick and put it in my empty slot, taking it to 14GB. They also state my computer will do better with a matched pair; it does NOT say I will get a benefit from having a quad, but am I safe to assume that two matched pairs (4x4GB) will be the best possible configuration? The quad should be slightly better than, say, just going 2x8GB and leaving two empty slots... yes?
A single 8GB stick is $46 from Crucial.
Looking on Newegg, it seems like 2x8GB and 4x4GB are roughly the same with the 4x4GB kits maybe running slightly higher, but if it's a matter of $5 for a slight performance boost from having a quad, I'll spend the $5. But I'm looking at around $70 for a kit either way I go.
Thoughts? Is it worth it to go all out and snag a quad, or should I just go cheap and get the single 8GB?
