I have a Gigabyte B450M DS3H WIFI Micro ATX AM4 motherboard that's currently set up in quad channel mode with two 8GB RAM sticks. I'm looking to upgrade my PC to a total of 32GB of RAM while keeping costs down. My question is: how bad would it be to add two more 8GB sticks instead of switching to a 2x16GB configuration? Would there be any performance or compatibility issues? My CPU is an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core.
3 Answers
Using 4x8GB means you might limit your upgrade options down the line, but buying two more 8GB sticks is usually cheaper. Just ensure they're compatible with your existing RAM for the best results.
It's really important to check compatibility with your motherboard when deciding your RAM configuration. AMD CPUs can sometimes struggle with four sticks of RAM at higher speeds, so performance might not be ideal if you go with 4x8GB.
Yeah, I've heard that too! It's a good point. If you're looking to save money, just make sure the additional sticks match the ones you already have.
From my experience, running different configurations can work fine. I've had setups with 2, 3, and 4 8GB sticks without any issues, but stability can vary based on your specific hardware.
Exactly! Ideally, you want to get the same brand and model so they play nice together.