Looking for a RAM upgrade to four sticks? Also wondering about dual or quad channel configurations.
Looking for a RAM upgrade to four sticks? Also wondering about dual or quad channel configurations.
Hello everyone, I'm considering increasing my RAM and have been searching for the right guidance but haven't found clear advice. My system has a CPU and motherboard that support dual channels, with four DIMM slots available. I'm thinking about getting four 8GB RAM sticks (4x8GB). Should I opt for two dual-channel kits or one quad channel kit? I understand the quad channel won't label it as quad channel, but I'm curious if using all four sticks together would be advantageous? Thanks for your help. Matt - UK
I’m using a 4x8GB configuration because it offers more storage capacity than the 2x16GB option, which better suits my needs without unnecessary bulk.
Hi Mateyyy, you're thinking about upgrading your MSI B460 Tomahawk with an i5 10600K for aesthetics. For the performance side, you're considering whether to get two dual channels or one quad channel. Let me know what you think! Cheers, Matt - UK
4 pieces of single-grade ram match the performance of 2 pieces of dual-grade ram. To achieve a total of 4 sticks, it's best to stick with the optimal configuration—don't mix single and dual grades.
Choosing two separate 2-stick sets is likely cheaper, making a 4-stick kit unnecessary. While combining kits isn't guaranteed to work, the odds are minimal—especially considering your specific board. You might also want to avoid chasing extreme XMP speeds, as you'll be restricted to JEDEC 2666MHz on a B460 chipset with an i5. Kits targeting 3000/3200MHz are usually budget-friendly these days. Edited November 10, 2020 by Mateyyy
If you're not pushing the RAM beyond overclocking, then four sticks of identical speed and timing are sufficient—preferably from the same brand and part number. Dual or quad channel bundles have been evaluated together and confirmed to function as a cohesive unit, offering better reliability compared to buying separately. You’ll get more consistent performance without the extra cost.
So, 2x dual channel kits may be cheaper (but there's a very very small chance they're not compatible 1x quad channel kit may be more expensive but are guaranteed to work together. Just about frequency!!! I take it the 3000/3200 is the rating at which the RAM could run - but this is dependant on other components - such as the CPU and Motherboard. So it would be better to go with 3000/3200 because they might be cheaper - and then adjust XMP to take them from 2133 default to 2666? Cheers
With XMP activated, the device will automatically reduce to 2666MHz instead of its original speed.