Hey everyone! I'm looking to boost my RAM and I'm kinda out of my depth here. I've got a G.Skill CL16 3200MHz 2x16GB kit running in dual channel, but I recently ordered a new 2x32GB CL16 3200MHz kit to bring my total up to 64GB. I know it's best to use two sticks for stability, but I'm curious if I can run both kits together for a total of 96GB. Since my motherboard isn't quad channel, I assume each kit would operate in its own dual channel setup? Also, the speed isn't a big deal for me since I'm planning to use a Ryzen 7 5700X3D and I've read those can handle lower RAM speeds without a hitch. Would love some insights on this!
3 Answers
You can definitely try mixing those kits! DDR4 generally has a decent compatibility reputation when it comes to mixing, but keep in mind that they might not perform at their best together. Each kit is usually optimized for itself, so sometimes the timings could end up messing with things. Just be prepared that you might have to lower speeds or tweak some timings to make it work smoothly.
Yeah, you're on the right track! Basically, when you have four sticks installed, it won’t operate perfectly in dual channel for each pair like you might think. Instead, it'll use what's available as effectively as possible. If you're not hitting your memory limits with your current 32GB, adding more won't necessarily boost your performance. But hey, trying it out won't hurt—give it a go and see if it works for you!
For most gaming and regular tasks, 32GB is really more than enough. Unless you're diving into some super heavy workloads, you probably won’t even tap into the extra performance offered by having 96GB. Just a heads up from my own experience: out of all the games I have, only a handful even utilize over 16GB. If it’s productivity you're after, make sure you really need those extra gigs!
I get what you're saying. But for creative tasks like rendering and video editing, I can see the value in having more RAM. It just helps with efficiency when you're multitasking.
So just to clarify, does this mean that even if I pair a 16GB with a 32GB, it won’t be a pure dual channel setup? Sounds like when they’re both in, it kind of splits into groups. Just trying to get a grasp on how this all ties together!