Utilized 3/4 RAM slot
Utilized 3/4 RAM slot
Hello everyone, I’m reaching out again to the Linus forum for some helpful suggestions. My PC already has two 8GB RAM sticks installed. I’m planning to upgrade with two more sticks of similar specifications. However, I’ve learned that I can only utilize three of my four RAM slots (thanks to the CPU cooler, you guessed it—probably). My main concern is whether it’s acceptable to use three out of four slots or if I should opt for two 16GB sticks instead. From what I’ve read, dual-channel memory isn’t working as expected now, which might affect performance. Should I go with the 16GB option rather than using three 8GB sticks? Also, I have an MSI Z490 gaming plus motherboard with an Intel Core i7 10700K—any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance and have a great day/evening!
Dual channels are consistently superior to single channels, no one should try to convince you otherwise. With Ryzen processors, single-channel settings hurt performance significantly. Intel systems see a moderate reduction. I plan to use two 16GB modules.
You seem to have a good setup overall. There could still be some room for improvement in performance. AMD Ryzen processors tend to perform better with dual-channel configurations compared to Intel, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. If I were you, I’d consider swapping it out and opting for 32GB, since you already purchased the RAM and won’t be able to use more.
Reviewing the motherboard manual reveals no details about handling three sticks installed. It only indicates proper setup for one, two, or four sticks. If you plan an upgrade but can’t adjust the cooler for the RAM, consider using two 16GB sticks and disposing of the old ones. Another choice is purchasing two new sticks along with a compatible cooler that avoids the previous fit problem; depending on the RAM price, this might offer better value.
Based on what I've learned, most people seem to agree with 1saacF that it should work fine. However, I prefer a tidy setup and think 3 sticks 24b doesn't feel quite right for me. That's why I'm considering going with the 2x16gb configuration. I also thought about swapping out my CPU cooler, but I don't want to deal with taking out my motherboard just to install it. Plus, I'm happy with my current cooler.