I recently encountered an issue with my laptop where it showed a capslock error (3 long, 2 short blinks) indicating a RAM or BIOS problem. After some testing, I found that one of the RAM slots is broken. Previously, my laptop had 2x4GB sticks, but now I'm considering replacing them with a single 16GB stick of the same speed. I'm curious about how the performance would stack up—specifically, is a single stick really that much worse than dual-channel memory? This laptop is mainly used for 3D printing, so I'd like to know if there's a noticeable difference in that context.
4 Answers
If you think you might want to upgrade again later, go for the single stick. If not, two sticks are generally better for performance. But with your situation, I wouldn't stress too much about it.
Dual channel is ideal for better performance, but it's not a dealbreaker. Trying to get a 16GB stick with multiple ranks (more lower density chips) can help. In most cases, you'll see a better performance with the 16GB compared to your previous 2x4GB setup, even if you lose the dual-channel advantage.
Switching to a single 16GB stick does mean you'll be doubling your RAM capacity, which is definitely an improvement! Even if it's not dual-channel, you'll still benefit from the extra memory for your tasks.
Two sticks do allow memory to work on more channels, giving a slight speed boost, but honestly? You probably won't notice much difference in performance. I'd pick one 16GB stick over two 4GB sticks any day, especially for what you're using it for.
Thanks! I read some conflicting info online, and it said there could be as much as a 58% performance drop. But I figured that moving from 8GB to 16GB would overshadow any issues with going to single channel.