32GB 3200CL16 or 3600CL18 compatible with RyZen 5000
32GB 3200CL16 or 3600CL18 compatible with RyZen 5000
The situation is clear. I don't reside in the US or EU, so I rely solely on local imports. Unless I purchase overseas, I'll face complications like RAM issues and extra trouble with returns. It's straightforward—I'm limited to the options available from my country. I'm considering a 3200mhz CL16 or 3600CL18, but which one suits you better? I'm likely to go with the 5800X now and pair it with a 2080 Super. I might upgrade to something closer to 3080 in the future. I also play with 1440p, which makes me more GPU-dependent.
EDIT: I've already received a 16GB kit at 3200mhz CL16. It feels like upgrading to a higher capacity would be wise. That's a bit of a silly question, but RyZen 5000 is unusual on its own. Wouldn't it be the same performance as a 16GB 3200 CL16, compared to a 32GB one?
This seems unusual. All the options are priced similarly. The KIt Corsair LPX Vengeance @ 3600 CL18 matches the Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB @ 32000 CL16 in price. The G.Skill Trident Z Neo @ 3600 CL18 costs more than the LPX Vengeance or Vengeance Pro RGB. Retailers often raise prices on RAM, especially for popular models. Should I consider buying a 1X 16GB kit and purchasing two to reach 32GB? Some advice suggests against this approach, as RAM is sold in kits for compatibility reasons.
I think you're referring to 3600 CL18 and 3200 CL16 having the same access latency. The main advantage of the 3600 CL18 is that it would run FCLK on your CPU at a slightly faster speed, but the impact would be minimal. It makes more sense to purchase another 2x8GB 3200 CL16 unit alongside your current setup.
Another point I want to share. In theory, even for Intel systems, the more RAM is being used (no matter the total size) the more challenging and less stable it becomes. Having two 16GB kits seems simpler to overclock and more reliable than a four 8GB kits, isn't it? Especially on AMD platforms. But recently many video releases say you actually get better performance with four RAM sticks compared to two.
I believe you're applying the term "stable" incorrectly. Your understanding can vary—either it's consistent or inconsistent. The stability depends on several elements such as memory voltage, timing, frequency, CPU, and motherboard. Generally, a larger number of memory modules or ranks puts more strain on the memory controller, which means higher memory capacity tends to reduce the maximum frequency. For instance, if the top frequency achievable with 2x8GB is 5000MHz, moving to 2x16GB or 4x8GB would likely result in a lower frequency, around 4600-4866MHz, though other factors also matter. That said, a drop in frequency isn't always negative. Switching from 2x8GB to 2x16GB (or even 4x8GB) can provide advantages like memory interleaving from dual-rank technology, which more than compensates for the slight decrease in speed. This relates to what I mentioned earlier—it's not just about the quantity of sticks, but about their ranks. Many 16GB sticks are dual-rank, meaning they have ICs on both sides, while most 8GB DDR4 sticks are single-rank. If you have two single-rank sticks in a channel, you still benefit from interleaving just like with a dual-rank stick. Thus, a 2x16GB setup should perform similarly to a 4x8GB setup, since both are dual-rank. This explanation might still be unclear, and I could have explained it more simply. Buildzoid offers several helpful videos on this subject if you'd like to explore further.
Well, it seems I’ll just order another identical 16GB unit (two 8GB units) and trust the process. Hope things turn out okay. I managed to snag the initial model at a pretty good rate—around 60 USD. Unfortunately, I can’t find such deals anymore, right? Now a 16GB 3200mhz CL16 Corsair Vengeance LPX would set me back about 80 USD. Not too bad, though—it’s still cheaper than purchasing another full 32GB kit.