RAM stability query

Looking to buy a P170EM with a 3720QM and was wondering which is best, 2x8GB or 4X4GB RAM. Please do not ask why I need 16GB as that is beside the point.
From what I gather 2 sticks allow more overclocking, relieve signal degrading on buses , avoid underclocking or adding of a cycle to the SPD BUT I am going to use it with a quad core so this may be relieved? Comparatively the 4x4 would allow for interleaving of data to relieve slightly on the dependency of the CAS cycle.
These issues are on the desktop side, my question is here due to the fact that I do not know how this all translates to a notebook and how much does heat from 2 or 4 sticks or how more liable to failure are they if only 2 packed together or spread among 4. Or of any other issues affect it on top of it all. Or what instabilities they may cause. :|
Any suggestions ?

 

If you are going to get 32GB RAM in the near future: get the 2x 8GB modules.

If you will sell the system before you go over 16GB RAM: get the 4x 4GB modules (should be cheaper).

If you're going to try to kill your system (overclocking): depends on the sticks you get whether 2x 8GB or 4x 4GB is better or not.

There will be no instabilities: the system is designed with 4 sockets/2 channel configuration.

There will be no real world performance differences either: as long as we're talking about the same capacity and 100% compatible (to your MB) Sodimms.

So, curious what you'll decide and why you're not considering 32GB RAM right now?

 

Both 2x8 and 4x4 options are the same price at the shop I am looking at.
I do not have in plan to get 32GB anytime soon and I plan to keep the laptop for 3-5 years.
I do not plan to overclock RAMs anytime soon as I see it giving diminished returns.
RAM needed for several VMs, firefox memory leak , multiboxing, rendering, PS

 

Several VM's? 3-5 years?

Get the 2x 8GB configuration and I would be tempted to just install 4x 8GB from now.

What is the price and spec's for that 2x8GB RAM? (Hope it is DDR3 PC12800).

Good luck.

 

If it supports quad-channel, why not? Yeah.. Should give you a marginal increase in response, that could help in some tasks. On the other hand you will need the expensive matched kits to get a 1cr setup with reasonably low delays. And you could probably wonder if pretty marginal increases in speed really will be worth the price. Since if the chips aren't identical, then you're going to have problems, and might need to increase the timing again.

Haven't heard about any increased heat or load. But what sort of programs really use multithreaded memory access anyway, right? I think it's generally passed over because the performance increase is small as well as difficult to get, while the problems show up easily.. specially with an overclock. I honestly didn't see any difference when I tried. So I'm not sure if it's worth it.

 

Yes , it is DDR3 and the upgrade from the base 2 GB is 140 Euro. I am not that enthusiastic about paying 300 Euro to upgrade it to 32GB right now though ... Also I was considering the idea of quad-channel but was uncertain if it would work. On the other hand the idea of 2x8GB is kind of what I was considering since they are the same price just unsure if the 8GB sticks are too new/unstable to deter me from getting them.

 

No, 8GB modules are not too new - these are preferred over lower capacity sticks.

140 Euro's though is too much for an 'upgrade' price - definitely get these aftermarket.

See:
8GB SODIMM DDR3 PC3-12800 1600Mhz Laptop Memory - MICRONSOD8G12800 - MICRON


first hit with lifetime warranty.

Of course it's DDR3 - but is it PC3-12800 that they're offering you - and is the next 8GB another 150 Euro's?

Also - no Quad Channel RAM is available for IB notebook's: just four sockets (dual channel).

Call them up, make a deal and get the RAM with the system (best warranty protection) - your workflow/workload will love you - and you'll be enjoying the fastest and most capable your system will ever be from day 1 of ownership.

I would think of it like this: as long as this is a work machine; 30-50 Euro's a YEAR extra to get 32GB RAM now is easily worth your money now - and will be probably worth more in 3-5 years when you sell it (not to mention the time it has saved you over that run).

(Time is money to you, right?)