RAM setup options for Ryzen 3000 line - either 2x16 MB or 4x8 MB configurations
RAM setup options for Ryzen 3000 line - either 2x16 MB or 4x8 MB configurations
I've encountered an interesting debate. Which setup delivers better performance—2x16 MB or 4x8 MB? I'm curious since some videos suggest the latter outperforms the former significantly, though none seem to directly compare identical brands and timing settings.
A few users reported problems with 4 sticks operating at claimed speeds. I'm running 4x8g at the advertised 3000Mhz, but it seems 4 sticks should perform better thanks to increased bandwidth. Ymmv
It varies based on the connection on your motherboard. Using a daisy chain yields no benefit from four cables except for extra hassle
Have you verified that GB and MB match in frequency and timing?
The issue is clear. I didn’t locate any direct comparisons that matched apples to apples, yet all the videos I reviewed highlighted advantages of filling all four slots instead of just two. I was also checking out some discussions about this topic, which mentioned that in theory it would help but practically every video comparing 4 versus 2 modules pointed to benefits for having all four slots active. Most AMD motherboards seem to align with the DASY Chain configuration. In my opinion, it might be complicating things further—there’s a quote from an article here: that says "The best practical setup is four ranks of DDR4-3600 at the lowest stable latencies." Just a reminder: four ranks can come from either four single-rank or two dual-rank DIMMs. Overall, it’s hard to pinpoint whether the tested RAM was single or dual rank since manufacturers rarely list that detail on their sites.
The 4x4 setup seems to offer noticeable improvements, though two different brands are used which could impact results. This configuration also works with the same brand but an older 2700x model. The key is finding 32GB benchmarks to see how much gain comes from four modules versus two 16GB units. I’m curious if performance could jump by around 10% when using four modules, especially given the minimal cost difference between two 16GB and four 8GB options. Since I likely won’t need more than 32MB of RAM, choosing between two or four modules shouldn’t matter much. Maybe testing a mix of 2x16MB and 4x8MB sets would give clearer insights before making a decision.
They quoted something different from what I remember. More ranks usually mean better performance at the same frequency and timing. This is noticeable in benchmarks rather than in actual games. Also, you can more easily overclock memory using fewer sticks and fewer ranks.
I haven’t noticed any clear visual changes myself. The main distinction appears as minor adjustments in number values. What I observe is essentially a tiny variation in GPU utilization—under 5%. The frame rate shift is less than 1%. While I’m unfamiliar with this testing process, the feedback from watching videos suggests these differences fall within acceptable limits. If they differ, it’s almost imperceptible, even for an experienced gamer.