With the cost of DDR memory soaring, thanks to AI data centres swallowing up every bit of stock, it is even harder to justify building a system in this day and age. Because of that, we recently looked at the AM5 platform and the 9000 series to see if there was a glimmer of hope when it comes to buying single-channel memory over a dual-channel kit.
Following on from that, we wanted to see what that means for Intel and the 14th generation of processors. This means that if you are looking to build a system with a 14600K, 14700K or 14900K and are able, on the off chance, to get hold of a single large-capacity stick, are you leaving a lot of performance on the table or is having a system with one stick better than essentially having no system at all?
Desktop Memory Supply Crisis
So a quick recap on what is going on. For anyone out of the loop, AI is literally taking over, and due to the requirements, memory in the desktop retail world is in super short supply. Due to that, prices have gone to the moon and do not look to be moving back down any time soon.
This got us thinking about what you, as a consumer, would be able to do if you are dead set on building a gaming system, and the big thing that stuck out to us is dual-channel memory vs single-channel memory.
If you are looking to build a PC, you no longer have the luxury of being able to choose, at least to a degree, and may have to settle. With that in mind, it does allow you to broaden your search a little as instead of buying a dual-channel kit, you potentially have the ability to search for single sticks. On the likes of eBay and Facebook Marketplace, you may get lucky with someone splitting a kit or breaking down a workstation who is perhaps unaware of the current, calling it what it is, crisis.
