Solved 8GB or 16GB RAM?

Hi everybody!

I bought a new laptop and it has 1 stick of 4GB ddr3 1600.

I use my laptop for:
- Video editing (premiere pro, vegas, after effects)
- Games (GTA 4/5, Sims)
- Photo editing
- Music editing

I am just wondering if I should get another stick of 4Gb 1600 or buy 2 8GB 1600?

Is 16GB worth it? Or is it overkill? Because it's quite expensive.

If I buy 2 8GBs I will have a 4GB lying around unused.

Please give suggestions!
Thanks

Also is 16GB 1333 or 8GB 1600 better? Which is faster?
Thanks

8GB should suffice. 1600 is good.

Which model are you talking about. 2 of those you list have a 4Gb max (mobo support) and one 8Gb support. I would advise checking before ordering memory you may not, in any event be able to use.

Which one of the computers in your specs are you referring to.

Can't you just go to RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, SSD at Crucial.com and do the scanner?

sorry guys. I should have said that I got a new lenovo thinkpad edge e430. it comes with 4gb ddr3 1600. should I get 8 gb 1600 or 16gb 1333?

my motherboard and CPU can support up to 16gb 1333

At the low prices of ram I would go for the gusto. I would go for another 8 gigs of matching ram that you already have. The difference between 1333 and 1600 I don't thing you will ever see with what you do. If you want to go 1600 then get all matching ram and enjoy all 16 gigs. If it was my computer I would add 8 gigs of matching ram.

Firefighter said:

I got a new lenovo thinkpad edge e430. it comes with 4gb ddr3 1600.

my motherboard and CPU can support up to 16gb 1333

Click to expand...

Mobo and CPU support 1333 speed and it now has 1600 speed??

I wouldn't buy any more unless I had evidence I was using all of the 4 I now had.

If you are using all 4 GB, I'd buy one more 4 GB stick as close to identical as possible to what you now have.

Unless you are the 1 person in 100 who legitimately uses more than 8 GB. I have no idea about that.

Firefighter said:

sorry guys. I should have said that I got a new lenovo thinkpad edge e430. it comes with 4gb ddr3 1600. should I get 8 gb 1600 or 16gb 1333?

my motherboard and CPU can support up to 16gb 1333

Click to expand...

Sorry I meant that my motherboard and CPU could support up to 16GB RAM (1600MHz)

You should probably go for a total of 8 or 12.
16 is probably overkill.

I'd go for the 16GB. Some photo/video editing can use up to 12GB of RAM, 8GB and you won't have enough, 16GB and you'll have some left over. With 16gb, you should never have to worry about not having enough......it will be enough to last the lifetime of the laptop more than likely.

You won't see any difference in performance between 1333 and 1600 MHz RAM. Go with what size you think you will need for your applications. 8 GB is probably more than enough.

Oh also, what's the difference between CL9 and CL11? And voltage 1.5v or 1.35v?

Can I put a 1.5 v into a 1.35v RAM slot (and vice versa)?
And Can I put a CL9 RAM into a CL11 RAM slot? (and vice versa)?

Firefighter said:

Oh also, what's the difference between CL9 and CL11? And voltage 1.5v or 1.35v?

Can I put a 1.5 v into a 1.35v RAM slot (and vice versa)?
And Can I put a CL9 RAM into a CL11 RAM slot? (and vice versa)?

Click to expand...

CL9/CL11 stands for CAS Latency. CL9 is normal for say 1600MHz, although you can get CL9 in other speeds. As far as 1600MHz goes, CL9 would be normal, CL7 would be found in a higher performance kit, while CL11 would be found in a lower performance set. Motherboard DIMM slots aren't classified into different CAS latencies. For 99% of computers, the most common CL rating for that frequency would be what I would get as you won't likely see the difference in CL7/9/11. As far as I know, the lower the number, the higher performance(in general) the RAM...although higher performance is used loosely because you'll never feel the difference.

As far as voltage....1.5v is the standard for RAM and while some motherboards can handle lower/higher voltage, I would read the manual or look up the specs for the motherboard to make sure. 1.5v I'm sure you'd be safe in using, 1.35(lower) would probably be ok too, but please, check with your motherboard manufacturer first. I personally don't see a reason to buy 1.35v over 1.5v, but that's just my opinion.

Thanks kbrady.

I ended up buying 2 8GB 1600 Mhz CL11 1.5V Sticks.