I recently had one of my Corsair Vengeance 16GB 3200 MHz RAM sticks break, so I bought two new sticks to replace it since they usually come in pairs. Now I'm wondering whether I should install all three sticks or stick with the 32GB dual-channel configuration. My motherboard is an MSI MPG B550 GAMING PLUS. What do you all think?
3 Answers
Generally, it's best to use an even number of sticks for optimal performance. When you mix two and three sticks, your system may drop down to single-channel mode for the extra stick, which can significantly cut your performance.
I recommend sticking with just the two new sticks. Unless you're doing a lot of multitasking or using specific apps that need more RAM, you probably won't benefit from having the extra stick.
For most cases, it's better to go with two sticks unless your workflow pushes you over 32GB usage regularly. If you're not hitting those limits, the two-stick setup will usually give you better speed.
Right! Even if you use all three sticks, the last one could run slower, which might not be worth it.
Exactly! Dual channel usually provides the best results, so it's not worth sacrificing that for just an extra stick.