2x16GB vs 4x8GB: Two sticks beat four for speed and simplicity

Two sticks run faster because four sticks put more electrical load on the memory controller, forcing the CPU to downclock or loosen timings. You often can’t hit the same XMP speeds with four sticks. The performance hit is small for gaming (2-5%) but more noticeable in memory-sensitive tasks. Unless you already own the four sticks, just buy 2x16GB — it’s simpler, faster, and leaves upgrade room.