Overclocking four RAM modules is more effective than just two, right?
Overclocking four RAM modules is more effective than just two, right?
It's generally easier to manage RAM high speeds when you use all four DIMM slots instead of just two. I've installed two 16GB DDR4 sticks and recently increased my capacity to double it for certain tasks that previously hit the 32GB limit. I kept the same model and SKU, finding everything consistent over time. Initially, I was worried about booting issues with four sticks, but it worked smoothly at 3600 MHz. I set the Curve optimizer to -30 and didn't encounter any problems. I then lowered the voltage by another 0.15V and improved performance further. Previously, I could only reach 3733 MHz with higher voltage, but now I can hit 3733 MHz with increased voltage too. It's surprising how more sticks allow higher clock speeds and stable infinity fabric. After some experimentation, I tried pushing clocks even higher—now I'm considering 3800 MHz and 1900 MHz for perfect balance. However, at those frequencies the system didn't perform well unless I kept the voltage carefully.
When GDM is turned on, 1T is reliable. Disabling it makes things less certain and often requires more effort. Be ready to check stability with simple tasks. Most boards I've tested can start up and even run tests at low temperatures, but they tend to freeze when you open File Explorer. This doesn't mean your chip can't handle -30°C, just be aware of the potential issues. It seems one of three things might be causing problems: a BIOS update since you replaced the drives, the board's memory voltage is rising without warning, or you're using an older X370/B350 model that handles clock memory differently depending on the number of DIMMs. Some Gigabyte Z370 boards are known for boosting memory speed by adding extra slots, which can affect performance.
The -30 curve remains very reliable and stable. Adjusting Vcore by -0.15V has improved performance consistently, as shown in MSI Afterburner data. I've used this setup for years without problems under any load. There was a crash at 3733MHz RAM, so I lowered it back to 3600MHz. Performance issues aren't occurring, so I value stability until I can adjust the RAM voltage further. The curve might also influence the memory controller behavior.
These components play a huge role in whether 4 sticks work smoothly or not. I tried using four sticks on my X570 Hero with a 5950X after installing a kit that came with four units. It wasn’t easy getting it to behave the way I expected, so I had to bump the voltage up a bit compared to my previous two-stick setup. Still, the system stayed rock solid throughout. Some AM4 and AM5 boards seem to do better when all DIMMs are filled in, rather than just having one stick installed. For AM4 models, it might depend on how the RAM traces are laid out, but I’ve been working with this for over a year now and haven’t noticed any issues. If you pass all the stress tests, you’ll be fine—enjoy!
CPU memory controller is active, but performance hinges on its quality. Issues may arise within a few months.