I'm building a PC with DDR5 RAM, and I'm trying to figure out if I should go for a 16GB single channel stick or two 8GB sticks in dual channel. I know that in terms of gaming performance the difference might not be huge, but I've heard conflicting advice about adding more RAM later. Some say I can't add another stick even of the same brand, while others think I can. Since I plan to keep this PC for a long time, it's important to know if I should invest in 2x16GB now or if a single stick will allow for future upgrades without hassle. Also, with RAM prices being high, I want to avoid making a costly mistake!
2 Answers
Dual channel is definitely the way to go for gaming! It just helps with overall performance, especially if you're running CPU-heavy games.
Using single channel with DDR4 can significantly hurt performance. DDR5 doesn't lose quite as much, but dual channel is still preferable. For DDR4, I'd say go with 2x8GB now and add another 2x8GB later; it's fine with 4 sticks. If you're on DDR5, getting 1x16GB now and planning to add another 1x16GB later is a solid plan.
Thanks! Since I'm building a DDR5 PC, I think I'll just grab a single 16GB stick for now; the 8GB sticks are hard to find anyway.
Oh okay, good to know!