Feeling completely confused about increasing RAM.
Feeling completely confused about increasing RAM.
I'm checking whether upgrading to more RAM is feasible for your setup. You currently have a 2x4GB module at 2133MHz, and you're considering moving to 16GB. Your CPU is an Intel Core i5-6600K Skylake with 4 cores and speeds up to 3.9GHz. The motherboard supports DDR4 memory up to 64GB across four slots. Your specs indicate the board can handle high-speed modules, so it should work well. The RAM you're thinking of—Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3000C15—fits your system and should run smoothly. Just confirm your motherboard's memory slots are compatible with the stick configuration you plan.
they don’t list prices higher than 2400 or 2133 because it’s essentially an overclock, which is why they show it as O.C.
You’re not foolish, RAM can be tricky. But we’re here to clarify everything for you. You have several choices. First, you can keep your current RAM and add more, which would bring you up to 24GB, but it will only operate at 2133MHz—which isn’t too much of a problem. You can upgrade to faster RAM, but to really boost performance you’ll need to adjust the BIOS and turn on XMP (overclocking). This tells the chip to run at its rated speed, like 3000MHz. A 6600k should handle it without trouble, but you’ll have to switch to the BIOS settings of your motherboard to enable this feature; otherwise it will stick at 2133MHz. The RAM you mentioned from Corsair should work, but you’ll need to activate XMP in the BIOS for it to run at the intended speed. Remember, speeds shown on the motherboard are only relevant when using standard memory under around 3800MHz. Beyond that, the board’s design and CPU IMC play a bigger role.