Consider your needs and whether additional or updated memory is necessary for optimal performance.
Consider your needs and whether additional or updated memory is necessary for optimal performance.
I've recently bought a new system (intel based) need to add more memory to this system, the system came pre-built but with very cool hardware except for the memory. So here's my base setup: CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K 3,5 GHz Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Kit Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI Memory: Kingston Fury Beast 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-4800MHz CL38 Hard drives: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 2 TB SATA3 GPU: RTX 3080 Ti 12GB GDDR6X Power supply: Corsair RMx Series RM750x 750W 80 Plus Gold Full Modular Case: Corsair iCUE 5000X ATX RGB 32 GB of Ram is not exactly enough for what I need, as I run a multi-node Kubernetes cluster and a few ML applications I need a minimum of 64GB ideally 128GB of ram so I'm looking to increase the amount of memory in my system but have a few doubts on how to go about this, and need your advice, here's what I'm thinking: Option1: Buy 2 blades of 32GB DDR5 in addition to the memory I already have, and replace the existing memory in the future as 2x32GB DDR5 from corsair cost around 550€ Option2: remove the existing memory and add the 2x32GB ending up with only 64GB in total Option3: Buy another set of 2x16GB to add to the system, ending up with the 4 ram slots filled but only 64GB in the future have to replace the entire memory set. Kingston Fury Beast 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-4800MHz CL38 - 289€ Corsair Vengeance 64GB (2x32GB) DDR5-5200MHz CL40 - 583€ Is it a good option to add the corsair memory to the 2 bays I have available? wont the different memory speeds create issues? or is it better to go option2 remove the current memory and add the corsair set to it and wait a bit for prices to drop and buy the 2nd set later on? Thanks in advance, Miguel Pinto
The key issue here is the poor performance of the DDR5 memory controller on Alder Lake. Running multiple DIMMs together will force it to default to a very slow 4000MHz CL40, possibly up to 5200MHz if lucky. For better results, consider using only two DIMM slots on DDR5 Z690 boards, as more than that becomes impractical. If you prefer, wait for the next generation of 2x64GB memory sticks to become available.
Hi Miguel, If your system has more than 64GB of RAM, I’d choose Option 1. From what I understand, varying memory speeds won’t significantly impact performance compared to a standard configuration, especially if you’re not heavily gaming. The i9-12900k only offers dual channel support, so adding four sticks instead of two won’t provide a noticeable speed boost. Option 3 is more affordable, but if you plan to eventually need 128GB, buying two 32GB modules now and swapping your 16GB sticks later could be a cost-effective strategy at similar prices.
Thanks for your prompt responses. I’m not a dedicated gamer; I mainly play need for speed or Forza 5 occasionally, and I use my PC for those games. Memory matters a lot when I run several VMs or containers with demanding apps, especially for programming work like ML and video editing. My eGPU handles the 6x27" displays, but I can’t use it for heavy ML tasks. I’ll consider Option1 first, and if problems arise I’ll switch to Option2. Appreciate your quick replies!