I'm trying to figure out whether I should go for four 16GB DDR5 sticks at 6400MHz or stick with two 32GB DDR5 sticks at 5200MHz. I've heard that using four RAM sticks, even if they're the same model, can sometimes lead to instability or lower efficiency compared to just using two sticks with the same capacity and speed. However, does it change anything if the four RAM sticks have a higher speed? What's the best choice here?
1 Answer
If you can get the four 6400MHz sticks to run properly, they should be faster overall. Generally, dual channel mode works the same regardless of whether you have 2 or 4 sticks, assuming other factors like timings are equal. But be aware, getting 4 sticks to run at such high speeds can be tricky. I tried adding two extra sticks once, and it turned into a hassle. I ended up returning them and just kept my 2x32GB setup instead.
You should sell the 2x16GB sticks; they’re going for about $250 used right now.