Does 16gb RAM use more power than 8GB?

Yes, 16GB of RAM can use slightly more power than 8GB, but the difference is usually minimal and may not have a significant impact on your overall power consumption.

Power Consumption Differences:

1. Amount of RAM:

   • The amount of RAM itself does consume power, with each stick of RAM drawing a small amount of current. Generally, 8GB of RAM will consume less power than 16GB because it has fewer memory modules.
   • However, RAM power consumption is relatively low compared to other components like the CPU, GPU, and storage drives. A single stick of DDR4 RAM typically consumes between 1.5 to 3 watts, and the power usage will double if you have two 8GB sticks, as opposed to one 8GB stick or the additional 8GB to make up 16GB.

2. Power per Stick:

   • The power used by RAM sticks is not just determined by the size (8GB or 16GB), but also by factors like the speed (e.g., 2133MHz vs. 3200MHz), voltage (1.2V or 1.35V), and the number of modules (single or dual-channel).
   • For example, if you have two 8GB sticks running in dual-channel configuration, they might use slightly more power than a single 8GB stick in single-channel mode.

3. Minimal Difference in Total Power:

   • The additional power consumption of adding an extra 8GB (making 16GB) is usually not noticeable in terms of the overall power draw of your system. For comparison, modern systems might consume 100-150 watts for the CPU, and 200-300 watts or more for the GPU, while RAM will only draw a small fraction of that total.

Conclusion:

While 16GB of RAM consumes slightly more power than 8GB, the difference is negligible in the grand scheme of things. RAM power consumption is minor compared to the power usage of more demanding components like the CPU and GPU. If you are concerned about power usage, there are more energy-intensive components in your system to focus on, but for most users, the increase in power draw from having 16GB instead of 8GB will not be a significant factor.