Single 16GB stick vs two 8GB sticks: Two 8GB sticks win for performance, single 16GB wins for upgrade path

The cost per gigabyte is nearly identical, so don’t overthink it. Two 8GB sticks give you dual-channel performance—a real boost on most CPUs, especially Ryzens. A single 16GB stick leaves a slot open for future expansion but runs single-channel until you add another. If you’re building a budget PC you’ll never upgrade, go with two 8GB sticks. If you plan to hit 32GB later, start with one 16GB now.