4x16 or just bite the bullet and get 2x32?

[Aken Bosch]

Specs in the profile. Is there someone with a 4x16 on Intel that could share the experience and at what timings? Ideally at 6400, if it's even possible.

 

[AleXXX666]

I may be funny, but:

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yes, there are both. But, 4 sticks are for quad channel more. I understand, that you really won't likely need free 2 slots with 2x32, but, why to bother when things could be done cheaper&easier for mem controller also.

 

[nomdeplume]

Go where the BIOS and microcode updates lead you??

4x anything is the lesser option until it isn't. Experimenting with both size variables (16GB/24GB) and capacities is probably the only reliable way to know where that is.

 

[Athlonite]

Intel doesn't seem to care whether or not you use 2 dimms or 4 unlike AMD if you already have 2 dimms and just want more memory then pick up another 2x16GB dimms of the same make/model as the ones you have but if you really need faster then get 2x32GB dimms at the speed you want simple as that choice is yours to make

 

[phanbuey]

For DDR4 4 sticks were better since they were typically single rank, if you didn't overclock (that much) than having more ranks was actually better.

DDR5 has double the ranks, so going 4 sticks just puts added stress on IMC. Get 2 sticks for best compatibility and overclocking.

 

[unwind-protect]

I run 4 sticks all the time, at default clocks and latency. For most applications it doesn't matter much performance-wise.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Intel doesn't seem to care whether or not you use 2 dimms or 4 unlike AMD if you already have 2 dimms and just want more memory then pick up another 2x16GB dimms of the same make/model as the ones you have but if you really need faster then get 2x32GB dimms at the speed you want simple as that choice is yours to make

If you cannot find the same brand and model, then 2 new sticks with the same specs should work just fine. In fact, as long as the 2 new sticks are on your motherboard's QVL, they "should" still work just fine along side the existing pair even if different specs.

Contrary to what used to be true years and years ago - and sadly, what many still believe and are still telling people, RAM makers, CPU makers and motherboard makers, associated memory management techniques, and the manufacturing/coding techniques for those products have made HUGE strides in the last 20 years or so to ensure RAM meets published specs and mismatched RAM plays well together without any compatibility issues. Yes, there are exceptions, but exceptions do not make the rule.

Also, with the information given so far there is absolutely nothing to suggest buying new 2 x 32GB RAM will result in faster speeds than simply adding 2 x 16GB to the existing 2 x 16GB.

And frankly, since in almost all cases, more RAM trumps faster RAM, even if there was an improvement in speed, it is very unlikely you would be able to see it with your human eyes and brain - except on paper (benchmark tests), or through the placebo effect.

So unless you have a buyer for your old 2 x 16GB sticks, or another computer you are planning to use them in, it makes much more economical sense to just buy 2 new 16GB sticks rather than toss the 16GB sticks you currently have in a drawer and by all new. Because again, any difference in performance between 4 x 16GB and 2 x 32GB will be marginal at best, and most likely unnoticeable to the [unbiased] human eye.

There is another similar discussion going on - please see my post here.

 

[matpc]

2x16 chad

 

[Aken Bosch]

Thank you all for the answers; regarding what Bill said I can safely say that the topic can be closed .