Increase memory speed for better performance.
Increase memory speed for better performance.
Hello! You're looking to upgrade your PC components, specifically RAM. With a 9900K and an XI Hero Z390 motherboard, you're aiming for top performance, especially for gaming at 1080p with high frame rates. You're considering 4x8GB modules due to the T-Topology of your board, and you're curious whether it's worth investing in the same kit twice or if a full 4x8 package is better to avoid compatibility headaches. While 4x8 kits aren't common, I've seen options like the F4-3866C18Q-32GTZR with standard timings. Would you mind sharing your thoughts or any overclocking experiences with that exact model? The F4-4000C17D-16GTZR with 17-17-17-37 timings is another option I'm evaluating, and the F4-3600C16D-16GTZR with 16-16-16-36-2N timings could also be worth a look if you have overclocking background. Feel free to suggest anything else!
Dual channel memory is suggested for better stability. Purchasing two 2x dual channel kits isn't the same as a quad channel setup. Consider a dual channel 2x16GB 3200MHz CL16 kit or higher speed option. Timing settings can be adjusted in the BIOS, but you should aim for reduced CAS Latency (CL) since it can't be altered.
Are you requiring 32 GB of RAM? If not, and speed is your priority, a 2x8 configuration offers better performance. Four DIMMs can strain the memory controller and motherboard, making it tougher regardless of design. Regardless, purchasing two 2x8 units works well. The main challenge comes when aiming for extremely high speeds, and keep in mind RAM speed only slightly impacts overall performance. Beyond around 3600 MHz, improvements become minimal. I recommend a kit with a 3600 MHz clock that supports overclocking—perhaps a 3866 or 4000. But beyond that, the extra cost doesn’t justify the gains. This applies mainly if you already have an 2080 Ti or Titan RTX. If not, invest in the fastest GPU available, as that will make a much bigger difference. Also, overclocking the 9900K is feasible on boards around $200, like the Aorus Elite or Master, which are similar to Asus’s $300 options. A solid VRM can help push the 9900K up to 5 GHz if you manage heat. In short, skip four sticks unless essential, and pushing past 3600 yields very limited benefits.
You could also mention using 2x16 GB cards, though they become quite expensive. Nonetheless, if you're aiming for 32 GB of RAM and speed matters, two sticks perform better than four.
I think Asus mentioned that with a T-Topology motherboard, overclocking would perform better if all four slots were filled. Having two or four sticks offers similar results, which is why I’m aiming for four sticks. The four-stick setup also looks appealing, especially for a premium build. I already own an Asus XI Hero, and its CPU has a solid IMC rating. My main concern was the memory’s overclocking capability, targeting speeds around 4000mhz, so I wanted to see if others had experience with those specific configurations.
It's not the motherboard that's the issue—it's the CPU Integrated memory controller struggling with four sticks instead of two. The board I use with my 8700K is the F4-4266C19-8GTZKW, and I find it works well at 4000mt/s CL16-16-16-36 at 1.400v. They also handle XMP stable settings nicely. This is where I personally prefer them for everyday use. On the other hand, the benchmark results I saw are quite different.
T topology offers the optimal setup for four sticks. Two sticks still perform better in speed. T topology shapes the traces on the motherboard to reduce signal interference. However, adding more sticks increases noise levels. The memory controller also faces greater demands with four dimms compared to two. This will likely be the main constraint. Four sticks have a slight edge over two, but performance ultimately depends on your budget. Keep in mind, if your GPU isn’t top-tier, consider allocating funds to faster RAM instead.
The IMC could pose challenges, but it really depends on the situation. I found this CPU to be a solid IMC, so I think two or four sticks would perform similarly. Regarding stability, purchasing identical kits twice might actually raise the risk of issues compared to a complete four-stick setup.
To keep a higher frequency while using four sticks, it gets more challenging. Having more memory improves this, whether for extra sticks or just two larger capacities. I believe a four-stick set is more likely to perform well together with better stability when they all share the same bin and revision.
Apologies for the delayed reply. The issue with the dimmer being more stressful comes from having two ranks per channel, but 16 GB sticks are already dual-ranked. So the ranks match exactly (noted on Reddit). Wouldn't that make sense? (Also about the IMC stress question)