I'm currently running a setup with 2x16GB of RAM in my prebuilt PC, which originally came with 2x8GB. I kept the original RAM as a backup. With RAM prices being so high nowadays, I'm considering selling my 32GB kit and getting a 16GB kit to still hit 32GB while making some profit. However, I would need to use all four RAM slots on my motherboard. I've heard mixed opinions about whether using all slots can cause instability or slow down performance. Is it a bad idea to fill all four slots, especially since I'm using DDR5 with an R5 7500f and an A620 motherboard?
4 Answers
In practice, the performance hit isn't huge if you're using decent quality RAM, but you are increasing the risk of failure since you're adding more sticks into the mix. More sticks can mean more points of failure, so just be aware of that.
Using four RAM slots can be problematic, especially with DDR5. It often runs at reduced speeds if all slots are filled. In my experience, if you can, stick to matching pairs of identical RAM sticks to avoid issues. Making sure they can all run at full speed is crucial! You might end up with stability issues or lower performance if they're mismatched or not optimized for your setup.
From what I've seen, just using two sticks tends to be much more stable than four. When I had four sticks in my old PC, it sometimes had boot issues. After switching to two, everything ran perfectly. If it were me, I’d consider selling the extra RAM without the hassle.
Honestly, it's not necessarily a terrible idea to fill all 4 slots, but you are more likely to face problems. It's usually best to have identical RAM sticks for optimal performance. If you’re already happy with your current 32GB setup, maybe it’s best not to complicate things and just keep what you have.
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