Ram: 2x4gb a lot better than 1x4gb?

[iluvatar]

Hi,

I just took my g53sw apart and noticed that it only has 1x4gb ram. I read somewhere that it's a lot faster if you have 2 ram modules because of dual channeling (or something like that). So would I gain much performance if I put 2x4gb in it? Does it matter which 2 slots I choose?

Thx for your answers

[xeromist]

You might already have another module on the other side of the motherboard (much harder to get to). How much memory does Windows say you have?

[iluvatar]

I checked all the slots, theres only one 4gb module and thats what windows says aswell.
Would there be a major performance increase?

[xeromist]

For memory intensive applications dual channel is a definite improvement over single. I'm not sure what you consider major but at least 15% and noticeable. You would also benefit from having 8GB in that your machine won't have to use the swap file nearly as much. 4GB is a bit small by today's standards because after you finish loading Windows there isn't much left free for games and other memory hogs.

[iluvatar]

Ok great I'm gonna buy a second module then, does it matter which 2 slots I use for dual channeling?

[Zygomorphic]

Yes. Slots 0 & 2 are on opposite channels. The best bet, if you have the money, is to buy two sets of 2x4 GB, remove all the existing RAM, and go to 16 GB. The price would be ~$100 or less, and that way you get RAM modules that are designed to work with each other. You could get 2x4, but you would have to use the hidden slot and the lower of the two slots on the underside of the notebook.

If the G53sw is like the G53SX, there are two RAM slots on top of each other on the underside of the notebook. The one closer to the motherboard is the other channel from the hidden slot.

[iluvatar]

Ok thx.
The max frequency is 1333mhz for the g53 right?
Would 2x8gb be better than 4x4gb?
And what's a good brand for ram, at the moment I have hynix in it.

[fuzon1337]

iluvatar wrote:
Ok thx.
The max frequency is 1333mhz for the g53 right?
Would 2x8gb be better than 4x4gb?
And what's a good brand for ram, at the moment I have hynix in it.

At 2x8GB (dual channel mode) then you can use 1600Mhz if I'm not wrong, but with 4x4GB (singel channel mode) then you can run it on 1333Mhz. This is how I have understood it by reading some post in this forum over time.

http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX1600C9S3P1K2_8G.pdf perhaps that RAM set is good enough ? 🙂

[Zygomorphic]

fuzon1337 wrote:
At 2x8GB (dual channel mode) then you can use 1600Mhz if I'm not wrong, but with 4x4GB (singel channel mode) then you can run it on 1333Mhz. This is how I have understood it by reading some post in this forum over time.

http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX1600C9S3P1K2_8G.pdf perhaps that RAM set is good enough ? 🙂

Actually, it works in dual-channel mode, just at 1333 MHz. I have 16 (4x4) GB in my G53SX, and memtest86 says that it is running in dual-channel mode, with a clock frequency of ~660 MHz (1333). I agree, it is a trade off between capacity and speed, but as several of us noted in another thread, the difference between 1333 and 1600 MHz RAM for computer games is nil. The only place it shows up is in artificial benchmarks. Even with 1333 RAM I get an 8.4 RAM score under Windows 8:cool:.

[fuzon1337]

Hmm, so if you place 4GB RAM in slot 1 and 4GB RAM in slot 3 with 1600Mhz then you will not get it's readings? I know it would downclock if it doesn't support 1600Mhz 🙂