Kingston confirmed that my current memory is defective. I was using four separately purchased 16GB DDR4 modules for 64GB total, and they offered to replace them with a single 128GB kit: four 32GB DDR4-3600 CL18 modules. The important difference is that my current modules are single-rank, while the replacement modules are dual-rank. My system uses a Ryzen 7 5800X and an ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard. Should I expect all 128GB to run at 3600MHz, or would 3200MHz be a more realistic target? I use the computer for gaming, Blender, Unreal Engine, and other 3D development work, so the extra capacity could actually be useful even though I initially did not expect to receive 128GB.
4 Answers
If all four sticks do not cooperate at 3600MHz, try using just two modules. Two 32GB dual-rank sticks are usually easier for the memory controller than four, so 3600MHz is more likely to be stable. You could keep the other pair boxed as spares rather than selling them, especially if preserving the complete kit matters for warranty coverage.
The motherboard and memory controller matter more here than the CPU model alone. Your X570 board and 5800X are a good combination for high-capacity DDR4, and 3600MHz is worth trying. However, four dual-rank 32GB modules put more stress on the memory controller than your current setup, so there is no guarantee that the advertised speed will be stable. Update to the latest stable BIOS, enable the memory profile, and test thoroughly. If 3600MHz fails, try 3200MHz or adjust the memory settings manually. Running only two modules would generally give you the best chance of reaching 3600MHz.
It is also worth trying the full 128GB kit at its rated settings before assuming you need to reduce the speed. AM4 systems have successfully run 128GB of DDR4-3600, but stability should be verified with a proper memory test and with the applications you normally use. If the system is unstable, lowering the frequency is preferable to chasing aggressive timings. Installing the newest non-beta BIOS before changing the memory would be a sensible precaution.
There is a decent chance all four modules will work at 3600MHz. Some AM4 systems handle 128GB of dual-rank DDR4 without trouble, although memory overclocking results vary from one CPU's memory controller to another. Test the complete kit at its rated speed first, then step down to 3200MHz if you get crashes, memory errors, or boot failures. Since your workload has reached around 50GB of usage, keeping the extra capacity makes more sense for you than it would for someone who only games.
That is why I am leaning toward keeping the full kit. Gaming alone would not justify 128GB, but Blender, Unreal, and 3D work have already pushed my usage close to 50GB.
I am hesitant to split the kit because Kingston is treating it as one four-module kit for warranty purposes. Selling two could create problems if one of the remaining modules fails later, and it might also make the modules less appealing to a buyer.