From 4gb to 8gb or 16gb?

**Dcezy** · March 29th, 2011, 12:52 PM

My question is as of right now I have 4gb of ram in my rig iBUYPOWER Gamer Extreme 908 SLC Desktop PC - Intel Core i7 860 2.8GHz, 4GB DDR3, 1TB HDD, DVDRW, ATI Radeon HD4670, Liquid Cooling, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition at TigerDirect.com

and my p55 motherboard supports up to 16gb 4x240pin DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800 Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Would it be better to upgrade to a fast 8gb like this one Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X + Turbulence II Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2200 (PC3 17600) Desktop Memory Model F3-17600CL9D-8GBXLD
which is a bit pricey 2x4GB $299.99

or get 16GB 4x4GB for $249.99 ? Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7Q-16GBXH

Thanks in advance for the help, this site is by far the best for tech support!

**ShyguyXPC** · March 29th, 2011, 01:43 PM

Question is WHY you want to upgrade to 8GB or more, do you really NEED the increase?

If its just for gaming, then there's really little need for the increase.

If its for more Memory hogging tasks, Photo/Video/Audio Editing, 3D Graphics/AutoCAD, things like that, then might be worth it.

If your looking for Faster Memory beyond the stock DDR3 1333 that comes with your PC for Overclocking (if your not going to Overclock, then there's absolutely NO reason to use anything faster than 1066 or 1333 RAM), Go with 4GB, or 8GB DDR3 1600MHz, its cheaper, provides a decent enough OC headroom for the CPU and RAM.

Or, even Two 8GB 1600 Kits (4 sticks) if you really need the 16GB amount.

**Dcezy** · March 29th, 2011, 02:29 PM

Yes it would be for ram hogging programs as i do alot of large graphic design work and of course gaming as well. Here is 8GB DDR3 2x4gb like you suggested Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-8GBRH
for only $104.99

So you're saying that would be more than sufficient to do everything i want? And since it's relatively cheap, if i buy 2more 4gb of the same brand will that ultimately be enough ram to last me years?

**ShyguyXPC** · March 29th, 2011, 02:49 PM

Should be, but its hard to say with Ram hogging tasks, like graphic design.

Myself I just Upgraded to 6GB DDR3 1333 in my rig from my previous 3GB (have a Socket 1366 i7 system with Triple Channel memory), so I have more RAM to use for the system when using 3D Graphics apps like Carrara 8 Pro and others that I mess with in my spare time.

also helps be able to use the PC when other apps like Folding@Home or other stuff is running.

Your current system, supports 16GB total, the kit your looking at is 2x 4GB, how many sticks do you currently have in it? (Existing 4GB)

Better deal: Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

its rated at 1600Mhz, so leaves Overclocking head room, if you wanted to bump that i7 860 to over 3GHz from it stock 2.8.

plus costs less, and has a $5 off promo code good till the 31st.

Otherwise for lower 1333Mhz Speed this is a good deal as well: Newegg.com - Patriot G Series ‘Sector 5’ Edition 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGV38G1333ELK

especially after the rebate price.

For the graphic design work though, the more RAM you have is going to outweigh the max speed of the RAM.

the only thing the Faster speed RAM is good for is Overclocking, where the RAM speed may be tied to the CPU (depending on the motherboard, some allow unlocking of CPU and RAM for easier OCing of CPU).

But yeah, that Patriot Kit would be the best buy in my opinion, and leave some OCing options open.

plus for the price, 8GB, after the rebate, you could probably grab a 2nd kit and pop that in, replacing the old current 4GB and end up with a total of 16GB.

**Dcezy** · March 29th, 2011, 02:57 PM

I currently have 2x2gb sticks in it. Are you saying i could pop in 2x4gb and leave the old ones in for 12gb total? Didnt think you could mix and match.

The first one you suggested is 1600mhz, when i look at that motherboard specs it only lists 2200/1333/1066/800. Does that matter? or should i just stick with the 1333 option you listed?

**ShyguyXPC** · March 29th, 2011, 04:08 PM

yeah, if the current sticks match the same speeds as the new ones (even if they didn't if the new sticks were faster, they'd default to the slowers speed), you should be able to run them for 12GB.

Though some sticks don't like working with others, or minor things like timings could muck up compatibility, as theres always some sort of minor potential issues with mixing RAM specs, but in general you should be fine.

as to Mobo compatibility for the 1600. It should support it no problem if it supports 2200. 800, 1066 and 1333 are regular speeds for your system (Socket 1156 supports 1333 normally, Socket 1366 supports 1066 normally and older Socket 775 supports 800 normally, not sure why they list 800Mhz, as I've never seen DDR3 that low before, but whatever)

your board should support up to 2200Mhz DDR3, I'm pretty sure this is the preset Profiles in the Bios, but you should be able to adjust it manually if it does support Overclocking, which it should if its showing 2200Mhz.

Worst case scenario, the 1600 RAM defaults or runs at 1333MHz. In which case, you might be able to drop the CAS latency down from 9.

if your not really going to be doing much Overclocking (mild to moderate OCing, and not aggressive), the 1333 should be fine, otherwise the 1600 would be better, but given its price, its not too bad as it is.

**Dcezy** · March 29th, 2011, 04:40 PM

Gotcha! I'll go with the 1600 and try them out with my old, im sure eventually I will get another pair of the vengeance to max out to 16gb. Thanks for all the help!