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We bring you an interesting guide for when you are going to buy a new computer and choose the RAM memories, so that you can choose the DDR4 RAM memories that best suit you.
Most budgets are based on the processor and graphics card and low budget components are chosen for the other essential components for the computer. One of the fields in which it is usually saved is in the RAM, something quite negative, which directly influences the performance of the computer. In this simple guide we want to advise you so that you install quality RAM memories that offer excellent performance in your computer. We will not analyze the prices, we will analyze the number of modules and memory, frequencies and other important aspects.
How many RAM modules should I buy?
The current motherboards for DDR4 RAM memories are characterized by being Dual Channel in cards with socket 1151, and quadchannel in 2011-v3. This means that we have two internally connected RAM memory slots in parallel that allows them to work more efficiently and double the performance. Knowing this information, the ideal is to acquire two modules of RAM, of the capacity that we want. If we are going to install 8GB of RAM in our computer, what we must buy are two 4GB modules. Not using this system is losing performance and it is something that does not interest us.
Something that we must also take into account is where to install these modules. It is not enough to put them in the slot that we see fit, there is an ideal location, so that they work at maximum performance. This is specified in the instruction manual and is also silk-screened on the motherboard itself. We can see in the image, behind these lines, in a red circle as it indicates that they are DDR4 followed by a dash and a number.
This numbering tells us how these slots are interconnected through the motherboard and where we must connect the RAM memories. Logically we must start with number one. Therefore, if we have two DDR4 RAM modules, we will install them in the DDR4_1 and DDR4_2. We must read it as it is represented, therefore, DDR4_1 is the one that is furthest from the processor socket and DDR4_2 is the one that is closest to the processor socket. As simple as that. This is not a major problem and is normal. But what interests us to know that the frequencies are multiplied in both cases thanks to the Dual Channel and thus the need to acquire two modules is explained.
How does the Dual Channel work?
We must understand that we do not see the configuration, this is done on the motherboard through the tracks that interconnect different points. What is not interesting to know is that thanks to this system we double the performance because we double the working frequency of the memories. Something that we must understand is the internal workings of the memories and the frequencies at which they work.
When we acquire DDR4 RAM memories, these memories currently have a working frequency of 2133MHz, for example, which will be the total effective frequency, while the real one per module will be about 1100MHz. This means that the frequency that would appear in the NB Controlloer, or memory controller, will be about 4200MHz.
What is the heatsink and what is it for?
Normally in the market we find two types of memories, the same, but different. We find some memories that have a coating and others without heatsink, the latter, in addition, are distinguished because they are usually marked with the denomination Value. Some may think that it does not matter whether they have coating or not, but it is not. The Value ones do not have a coating, they are usually the same as those that do have this coating, although there is an important difference.
The coating has an explanation. This is called heatsink and has the mission of dissipating the temperature of the memories. It is not an irrelevant fact, the fact that they have a heatsink is important, since by reducing the temperature of the memory modules, they work a little better, but the most important thing is that the life of the memories is improved. The improvement, we may think that it is not worth it, but it really is worth it, due to the improvement in performance, consumption and efficiency.
What is the XMP?
This technology is very interesting and we must know it a little better before moving on to comment on other parameters. The Intel Extreme Memory Profile is a technology developed by Intel, which allows us to store RAM memory configurations and load them whenever we want. Manufacturers of RAM memories often offer profiles developed by themselves.
The vast majority of gaming motherboards within the entry, medium and high range offer this technology. The only drawback is that you have to enter the BIOS to activate this technology, something quite simple with the UEFI BIOS. If we enable it, we can improve the frequencies of the RAM, modify the lighting of these (if they have) and use XMP profiles from the manufacturer of our RAM.
How often should my RAM be?
Before these lines we have left an image, which may correspond to the specifications of any motherboard on the market. The manufacturer on its website or in the manual will indicate the memory frequencies that the motherboard in question supports. We see that most have the term OC, which is the abbreviation for OverClocking, marked in red, while those marked in orange do not have this nomenclature, this is due to the XMP.
The explanation is that motherboards usually have XMP mode disabled and you have to enter the BIOS to activate it. If this mode is deactivated, the RAM will work, but at the frequencies highlighted in orange. If we buy 3000MHz memories, they will always work at 2400MHz and if they are 2400MHz or 2133MHz, then they will work at that frequency without major problems. For the RAM to work at 3000MHz we must access the BIOS and activate the XMP mode.
Be careful, we must not get confused. These are standardized frequencies at which we can make it work through XMP profiles without major problems, but if we are going to use the motherboard for overclocking, we can make them work at the frequency we want, as long as it is well cooled. So the frequency is indifferent, obviously the higher the frequency, the better the performance, but if it exceeds the base frequencies that the motherboard supports, we must activate the XMP, so as not to have spent too much money.
Is latency important?
Yes, latency is an important factor, but it is not critical, although we must know which ones to choose. Latency, basically, is the time or number of clock cycles that pass between when the memory controller sends a request to the memory module to obtain data and when the data goes out through the data bus of the memory module. memory. These values in the 2133 / 2400MHz memories are usually CL15, a very good value and it is difficult to find a value lower than this. We can find some CL14, but it is not common. Memories with a CL higher than 15 are not a good option, we should discard them.
Something that we must bear in mind is that the more frequency, the more the latency increases. Up to 3000MHz, these included, this is usually CL15, but by the time we pass the 3000MHz barrier, we go to CL17 / CL18. It does not mean that they are bad, on the contrary, a 3600MHz with CL17 is an extremely interesting option, since the latency rises by the frequency at which it works, this is normal.
The more frequency, the latency does not only increase, the price of the modules also increases. Normally, for the input range and even the mid-range the ideal is 2133 / 2400MHz, even for a mid-range we could opt for 2666MHz (activating the XMP already in this case) and for the high and extreme range we would start from 3000MHz in forward, depending on the use and if we are going to overclock the equipment or it will be intended for gaming.
Can I use different RAM modules?
Something that we must take into account, if we are going to buy a certain amount of RAM now and in a few months, we want to expand, is that they must be the same in frequency and latency or we will have a problem. Normally if they are from different manufacturers and the frequencies and latencies are the same, we should not have problems, but our recommendation is that you buy it, if possible from the same manufacturer, to avoid possible conflicts.
How much RAM do I need?
We have reached the million dollar question. The normal thing that is recommended for gaming equipment is 8GB of DDR4 RAM. This would be the minimum that we would recommend to any user, but the maximum, what does it depend on? Well, very simple, from the motherboard. Intel Kaby Lake and Skylake motherboards support a maximum of 64GB of DDR4 RAM, while the Intel Broadwell-E support a maximum of 128GB of DDR4 RAM. Within these values we can choose the amount that we consider, according to the needs or the chosen configuration. It should be remembered that 32-bit Windows supports a maximum of 4GB of RAM, therefore if we install 8GB of RAM or more we will need a 64-bit Windows.
Conclusion
Everyone is free to choose what suits them best, either by characteristics or by price, in this article we do not pretend that you buy one thing or another, we want to offer you a guide on how much RAM to acquire, the working frequencies, the latencies, which is the Dual Channel or if it is interesting or not that they have a heatsink. Our advice is that you always opt for two DDR4 RAM modules to use the Dual Channel and that they always have a heatsink, to improve efficiency and performance. The frequencies and latencies are left to your choice, yes, remember to activate the XMP if you buy memories with a frequency higher than the maximum supported by the motherboard without the XMP.
