Need Help w Upgrading RAM

[traha9]

·       What is the latest on upgrading RAM kits? It seems like with AMD specifically it matters less and less that you need to get identical kits in order for everything to work in harmony.

o   For example, if I have 2 x 16 GB 3600 MHz of G. Skill with timings of CL18-22-22-42:

·       Which of the specs below should I be most concerned with matching with when upgrading

§  Similar die / mem modules

§  Similar manufacturer (i.e. G. Skill)

§  Similar timings

§  Similar capacity - (could I buy a 2 X 16 GB kit and it would potentially work? - that’s what I would really like to do)

§  Same true latency?

§  Etc, etc.

·       Any advice or information would be great because I cannot find that much useful information online. It seems like the majority of advice I've read is "buy the exact same SKU of memory or your computer will blow up", which I am not sure is entirely true based off the very few articles I've seen from more reliable technical sources.

o   PS: I currently have 3900 X, x570 Taichi, and this kit from G. Skill - Trident Z Royal DDR4-3600MHz CL18-22-22-42 1.35V 16GB (2x8GB) F4-3600C18D-16GTRS

  

[Sir0Tek]

It's similar/same die/mem-modules and timings. You shouldn't mix the modules of a bank, but you can put 2 in bank a and a different size in bank b, this should be no problem.

 

Better actually would be to exchange the 2x8gb with 2x16gb.

[Constantin]

Those two must be the same it will be better having the same capacity (GB) but no bsuch a big deal. 

Same latency

Similar timings

 

As for all the rest you don't have to care at all.

 

[traha9]

@Constantin@Sir0Tek Meaning if I do get 2 x 16 GB - I should just remove the 2 x 8 GB kit completely? So its sounds like if I match the CL and timings are roughly similar its good to go, right? Could CL be off at all like 16 v 18 or should I probably avoid that?

[Otto_iii]

16gb is overkill for any modern gaming, if you aren't running VMs or hosting servers don't buy more, it won't gain you any performance.  8gb is only *just* too small for some games, thus the occasional mild performance impact. 

As for ram check these out

New Egg
https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-16gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820232880?Description=3600cl16&cm_re=3600cl16-_-20-232-880-_-Product
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-Ripjaws-PC4-28800-CL16-19-19-39-F4-3600C16D-16GVKC/dp/B07X8DVDZZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ripjaws+3600&qid=1576903385&s=electronics&sr=1-1
MicroCenter
https://www.microcenter.com/product/612970/gskill-ripjaws-v-16gb-2-x-8gb-ddr4-3600-pc4-28800-cl16-dual-channel-desktop-memory-kit-f4-3600c16d-16gvkc---black

They aren't technically "Ryzen 3000 Ready" or w/e bullshit marketing, but i've only heard of them not working with XMP on a very few select motherboards/Bios updates, that likely updating to newer bios would fix.  They've been used repeatedly by Ryzen 3000 owners without issue. 

[Constantin]

10 hours ago, traha9 said:

Could CL be off at all like 16 v 18 or should I probably avoid that?

No it mmust be the same!

 

10 hours ago, traha9 said:

Meaning if I do get 2 x 16 GB - I should just remove the 2 x 8 GB

No, if youu have empty slots put them no worries 

 

10 hours ago, traha9 said:

So its sounds like if I match the CL and timings are roughly similar its good to go, right?

Must be the same!