cheapest way to get to 16GB of ram

[cyberey66]

I currently have an ASUS M3N78 PRO which is maxed out with 8GB of ram. For most uses this is enough memory, but I have been running some simulation software that started to use all of the memory and it brings my computer to a halt.

I have been looking around for motherboards that support 16Gb of ram, the problem is they only have 4 dimm slots. I currently have 4x 2GB modules, which would require me to ditch them and purchase 4x 4GB modules. I checked the prices, and that is about $700-800 of ram, when my 8GB of DDR2800 memory cost just under $100 (well i just checked the current prices, the same exact ram doubled in price to just under $200 this year).

So, are there any motherboards out there that have 8 dimm slots? Is there any solution to obtain 16GB of memory with out spending about $1000 for an upgrade?

 

[EarthDog]

A server based board would have 8....

 

[cyberey66]

A server based board would have 8....

Thanks for the info, that's what I suspected. It would require me to ditch my CPU too. So I guess the answer is there is no way to get 16GB in the desktop price range yet. I should be happy I was able to get a cheap quad core system with 8GB while memory prices were low.

I guess upgrading to a motherboard with 4 dimm slots that supports 16GB is the best idea. When/if memory prices drop, I can just add some 4GB modules.

Something like this, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157159 should do

 

[Parad0x420]

The most RAM slots you will find for single CPU board so far is on Intel Core i7 with 6. A server board will have 8, but that's most likely with dual CPU sockets and 4 slots per CPU. So to get 16GB you will need 4GBx4 sticks. The new Opteron G34 server boards will be released with quad-channel DDR3 support, 8 RAM slots per CPU. Click me to go to Dolk's post, that has a picture of it towards the bottom.

 

[nzaneb]

When/if memory prices drop, I can just add some 4GB modules.

DDR2 is past it's extremely low price point. Unfortunately it's on is way out, so over supply will not be a factor in forcing the price to very low levels again. I'd expect DDR3 and DDR2 to swap places shortly, on a price/quantity scale.

Have you priced out a server style setup?

 

[cyberey66]

DDR2 is past it's extremely low price point. Unfortunately it's on is way out, so over supply will not be a factor in forcing the price to very low levels again. I'd expect DDR3 and DDR2 to swap places shortly, on a price/quantity scale.

Have you priced out a server style setup?

Thats good to know, so that would not be an ideal solution.

If these simulations become routine, I'll price out a server but the price of server level components vs desktop components is well out of my price range. I can possibly get my school to pay for it if other students will use it as well.

I spent under $500 (not including monitor) putting together a 3.4GHz quad core system with 8gb of ram using desktop components. I imagine the server alternative will be over $1000.

Thanks for everyone's input. I never thought I'd reach the day 8GB is not enough ram.