While PC gaming has never been an ultra-cheap hobby, the current AI-induced global memory supply crisis has made it painfully pricey. With DRAM kits and SSDs now three to four times more expensive than they were 12 months ago, nothing is off the table when it comes to finding ways to save some money.
All of which got me thinking: Is it worth using a single stick of memory compared to shelling out for a dual-channel kit, be it separately or as part of a prebuilt gaming PC? We're always told that this isn't a good idea, but if you bought a 32 GB kit with a friend and split the memory between the two of you, that would actually save you a bit of money over buying a full 16 GB kit.
So armed with a deerstalker hat, magnifying glass, pipe... oh, and a host of PC parts, I've delved into the whole single vs dual-channel DRAM debate. What I've discovered will help you make the right choice when it comes to choosing your next gaming PC or planning a full upgrade.
English (US)