I currently have 16GB of Silicon Power DDR4 in a 2x8GB configuration. I found a reasonably priced 16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro kit, also rated at 3200MHz CL16, and I'm considering adding it to reach 32GB across four 8GB sticks. My system uses an Intel i3-12100F, an RX 6600, and an ASRock B660M Pro RS. Will all 32GB be available to games, and is running four sticks acceptable even though two matched 16GB sticks would be the more ideal setup?
4 Answers
Four DDR4 sticks can perform about the same as two 16GB sticks, and in some configurations dual-rank memory offers a small improvement. However, the difference is minor. The practical benefit here is simply moving from 16GB to 32GB; don’t expect the extra sticks alone to noticeably improve frame rates when the i3-12100F or RX 6600 is the limiting factor.
Two 16GB sticks are generally easier on the memory controller and may have a better chance of running XMP without tweaking. Mixing kits can sometimes cause instability or force the system to use slower settings, even when both kits have the same rated speed and timings. If you buy the second kit, test it with a memory test and be prepared to disable XMP or lower the memory speed if necessary.
Your B660 motherboard should support four DDR4 DIMMs, but check its memory-support list and update the BIOS if needed. Install the sticks in the correct slots, enable XMP, and verify that the system is stable. If the mixed kits don’t cooperate at 3200MHz, running them at a slightly lower speed is usually a reasonable compromise.
Yes, 4x8GB can provide the full 32GB, and games and Windows will be able to use it normally. It isn’t inherently dangerous for your computer. The main concern is whether the two separate kits will run reliably together at their advertised 3200MHz CL16 settings.
I’m mainly interested in having enough capacity for the occasional game that benefits from 32GB, rather than chasing a performance increase.