Mobo limits to 64GB of RAM, but the CPU supports up to 128GB—what we require is everything available.
Mobo limits to 64GB of RAM, but the CPU supports up to 128GB—what we require is everything available.
Hi, hope everyone is doing well. I’m facing a setup where my older motherboard claims a maximum of 64GB RAM, but I have an Intel i7-8700K CPU and ARK says it supports up to 128GB. My question is: does 128GB work with this configuration—same CPU and motherboard model? Also, I’m considering using four 32GB sticks in quad mode for CI/CD purposes and want the best possible performance. Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
The motherboard confirms compatibility with 64 gigabytes, but only if it meets that requirement. The 8700K is capable of handling 128 gigabytes, though this feature is available only on boards that support it.
For high RAM needs, consider refurbished rack servers available on eBay, offering substantial memory at lower costs. The only limitation is the motherboard support, which caps performance at 64GB.
In 2018 the validation for memory on the motherboard might have meant there were no 32 GB sticks available. However, the specs say only single and dual rank memory are supported. It’s unclear what CI/CD stands for, but I wouldn’t choose such a board with 128 GB RAM. Refurbished servers are an alternative; Threadripper is also available, especially the first-gen which fits 128 GB in eight slots at a lower price. If processing power isn’t essential, models like the Threadripper 1900x (8c/16t) are affordable at around $150. The newer TR4x boards can handle 256 GB but come with higher costs.
Because at that time 32GB modules weren't available for general use. The memory controller was built into the CPU, so if the CPU claimed support for 128, you'd likely be fine. In the early Core 2 era, there were no 2GB DDR2 slots and most motherboards only supported an X slot with 1GB, which is probably what most users required (standard PCs typically use 1GB). Once 2GB slots appeared, people connected all slots to achieve a total of 8GB memory and it functioned. I even tried a 4GB DDR2 laptop and connected it to my MacBook, which clearly limited itself to 4GB (2x2GB).
Thanks everyone for the help. We chose to stick with the motherboard specifications instead of taking risks. I’m sure the MSI MEG Z390 ACE 128GB is compatible and functioning properly, as we’re using it alongside an i9 9900K in another machine. Our tasks are mainly single-threaded (like angular/react builds and tests), which is why we use fast consumer CPUs. We also have several virtual machines running browser-based end-to-end tests on those servers, so ample RAM is essential. Cheers!