I've been having some issues with my laptop recently, and it shuts off after showing an error message about the RAM. I found out that one of the RAM slots is broken, and I currently have two 4GB sticks. If I switch to a single 16GB stick of the same speed, how much performance would I really lose by going from dual channel to single channel? I mainly use my laptop for 3D printing, so I'm curious if this change will impact that usage.
4 Answers
If you're considering future upgrades, going with a single stick is a good choice. Otherwise, dual sticks will usually give better performance right now.
Two sticks do allow your computer to use memory on more channels, making it slightly quicker, but you probably won't notice a huge difference. Personally, I'd choose the 16GB stick over two 4GB sticks any day!
While dual-channel RAM is nice for some performance improvements, it's not crucial for most tasks. Try to get a 16GB stick with multiple ranks for better performance. 16GB will outperform your old 2x4GB setup in most cases, just be cautious about the specifications since sellers often use stock photos.
Upgrading to a single 16GB stick is actually a solid boost since you'll double your RAM. It's definitely an improvement overall, even though you lose dual-channel performance.
Thanks for that insight! I was worried that going to a single stick would seriously impact performance. I read some conflicting info online, but it seems like having 16GB will really help.