What DDR4's better: 64GB 2400 or 32GB 2800?

[cybereality]

I am upgrading to a X99 board and am looking for memory. I'd like at least 32GB of memory.

I was wondering if going with 2800 speed would have any benefit over 2400 and if the jump from 32GB to 64GB would make a difference.

Ideally I would just go with 64GB of the fastest memory I could find, but it seems they only have 2400 speed w/ the 8GB modules.

Thoughts?

 

[LAiN_OfTheWired]

The first question that comes to mind is 'what exactly do you plan on using it for?'

If you're going to raise a bunch of VMs for something, for instance, you'd probably be better off with trading speed for overall amount.

I personally plan on raising 1 or 2 VMs at a time, no other real need for a ton of RAM here, but I also plan on gaming. For me, 16GB of DDR4-2666 should be enough until DDR4 matures and I can easily get 32GB of DDR4-4266 (or whatever speed ends up being near the top-end).

I've also read that a few people don't like the DDR4-2800 stuff because it forces you to raise the BCLK. On haswell-e that shouldn't actually be much of a problem, but something to research a little more.

 

[cybereality]

I'll be doing a mix of things with this machine: gaming, graphics programming, 3ds max, photoshop, etc.

I do realize 64GB is overkill, but I'm also typing this on a rig I built 6 years ago. If this new rig lasts that long, I will be still using it in 2020. Who knows how much RAM you need in 2020, I want to be prepared.

Also, I don't like the idea of having to overclock the BCLK just to use the RAM. That alone is reason enough for me to stick w/ 2400.

 

[HeavensCloud]

RAM is easy to upgrade any time. I would personally go with 32GB faster RAM. You aren't using anything that would use nearly that much.

 

[Meeho]

He's not using anything where the tiny speed difference would be noticable either. I would go for 64 GB, or better yet, any 32 GB now and add 32 GB later if needed.

 

[Matt174e]

Sorry, but are you THE cybereality? From the Oculus forums??

 

[LAiN_OfTheWired]

RAM is easy to upgrade any time. I would personally go with 32GB faster RAM. You aren't using anything that would use nearly that much.

Essentially, this. Get a lesser amount of faster stuff now, upgrade if/when it becomes necessary.

 

[cybereality]

@Matt174e: Yep;

@LAiN_OfTheWired: I'm probably leaning toward getting the faster stuff but I can wait a few weeks and see what comes out.

 

[rflcptr]

I think that Windows' prefetching and file caching can make a quantifiable difference going from 32 to 64 gigs and speed increase of 2400 to 2800 is certainly a case of diminishing (and miniscule!) returns; capacity should be your first concern.

 

[rhansen5_99]

Here is a good article I found on 2011 and triple channel(http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/lga2011-ddr3_3.html), I would assume that quad channel falls in line with these kind of results. Bottom line there is a sweet spot to price and performance gains. I would hope that ddr4 will fall in price as scales of economy take place but who knows if/when that might happen.

 

[cybereality]

I ended up going with the Corsair Vengeance LPX 2800 - 32GB (8x4GB).

The big factor was that I couldn't find the 8GB sticks in time, and I thought the faster speed might be more useful on a regular basis rather than the extra space which might not even be used frequently.

In any case, RAM is easy to swap out so if I see some real gains with newer sticks I can always upgrade.