Discussing RAM upgrades for an AMD x370 motherboard
Discussing RAM upgrades for an AMD x370 motherboard
Hello everyone, welcome to the forum! I'm new here even though I've been browsing and watching the YouTube channel for quite some time. I'm reaching out for a quick answer since I need to upgrade my RAM. (Actually, I originally planned a full system upgrade, but I'll wait for CPU prices to stabilize while I urgently want more memory.) So here I am asking.
I own an MSI x370 SLi Pro with a first-gen Ryzen 1700, which has been working fine so far. Since I frequently use VMs, I need to upgrade from 32GB (4x8) to 64GB (planning 2x32 for future expansion).
According to the manufacturer's specs, the board supports up to 128GB (4x32), but I'm concerned about whether my CPU can handle that. I haven't found any 32GB RAM options in the compatibility list, which might be outdated. My goal is to keep the current configuration for future Ryzen upgrades when they become available.
I was considering two kits: a 2x32 Corsair Vengeance PC3200 (CMK64GX4M2E3200C16) or a 2x32 Crucial Ballistix PC3200 (BL2K32G32C16U4BL). I also want to maintain the 3200MHz speed for now, as I won't enable XMP yet and plan to do so later.
Please let me know if it's safe to buy these kits or if there are any issues I should be aware of. Thanks in advance!
Technically it can handle up to 64GB DDR4 RAM in dual channel mode, meaning you’d need two 32GB modules. Remember that the 1700 only reaches up to 2667 MHz! If you choose one of your options but use a 2667MHz clock instead of 3200MHz, it should work. The main point is: why do you require so much memory?
The main cause for needing so much RAM stems from working extensively with virtual machines for testing and setting up virtual labs. Running multiple virtual environments, especially with complex setups like Win201 + 2 clients and an exchange server, quickly consumes available memory. For the project involving a Proxmox server built from this setup on a Ryzen 5000 series machine, RAM usage is consistently high during normal operations. The goal was to create a functional build for testing purposes, eventually transforming it into a dedicated Proxmox server while developing a new workstation. Even though most tasks aren't CPU-heavy, maintaining idle VMs still impacts memory allocation.
I know exactly what I’m saying now—the LPX will be tough to launch on that first-gen Ryzen processor. The Ballistix is an improvement, but not a huge one. Here’s a tailored setup for your system... (assuming you won the silicon draw and can run Infinity Fabric at 1500). https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-64gb-288-...6820232228
This setup combines two channels on a dual-rank board. Supporting quad channels isn't necessary here. All 32GB sticks underperform and won't function properly with just four sticks in any first-gen Ryzen system—not just at the base spec. A better choice is four 16GB sticks for a lower cost and improved performance compared to two 32GB sticks for higher price and reduced efficiency. (In practice, you can't exceed around 64GB anyway). When a motherboard claims support for 128GB with a Ryzen chip, it means using memory modules that don't yet exist.
I've attempted to use the Ballistix 2x32 as recommended by @JohanKjeldahl7, hoping it will function with the latest BIOS update. I'm excited about maintaining them during upcoming motherboard and CPU upgrades. I placed the order on Amazon, so if any issues arise, I can rely on their return policy to secure a refund. I'll keep you updated on the outcome—whether it turns out to be a success or a disaster. Thanks in advance for your help.
Here are the details you shared:
I set up a 2x32GB ballistix BL2K32G32C16U4W RAM on my MSI x370 sli plus with BIOS version 3.H0, released on January 22, 2019. The system started up normally and the RAM clock was correctly displayed at 2667 MHz. So far everything appears to function properly; I haven’t pushed the system too hard yet, but it works fine. Both modules are recognized, and I haven’t turned on XMP or any overclocking features since I’m not particularly interested in that. Thank you very much for your assistance.
P.S. The RAM heatsinks are white—pretty cool! In my all-black setup with white fans and a fractal design. R5 case!