I have a B850 Pro-A motherboard and currently use a 2x16GB TeamGroup DDR5-6000 kit. I want to upgrade to 64GB and am deciding between adding another 2x16GB kit, buying an identical 2x16GB kit, or selling my current memory and replacing it with a 2x32GB kit. I've heard that running four DDR5 sticks can cause compatibility and stability problems, especially at the advertised speed. Is matching the existing kit good enough, or is a 2x32GB setup the safer choice?
3 Answers
If you can avoid it, stick with two DIMMs. DDR5 is particularly sensitive to signal quality, and filling all four slots commonly makes stability and rated speeds more difficult. A matched 2x32GB kit gives you the best chance of running 64GB at its intended settings.
Using four sticks can work, especially if the second kit is identical and the motherboard BIOS is up to date, but it is not guaranteed. You may need to lower the memory speed or adjust timings. Newer platforms tend to handle four DIMMs better, but results still vary from system to system.
The safest option for compatibility and performance is to sell the current kit and move to a matched 2x32GB kit. Four DDR5 sticks put more stress on the CPU’s memory controller and can prevent the system from running at the full 6000 MT/s rating.
That’s disappointing, but I’d rather spend more on a 2x32GB kit than deal with instability or having to run the memory much slower.