Opinions Requested

[lerodemmy]

So over the last few weeks I’ve been trying to modernize my PC, upgrading the SSD, RAM, rear fan, liquid cooler/radiator and graphics card.  I probably should’ve started with the motherboard and CPU (Z170 Pro Gaming and i7 6700K) as I bought them almost four years ago.  However, I had never upgraded anything in a computer on my own before, and that seemed like a really involved process that I was afraid to mess up.

 

As of right now, the system is running great and I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve done, though slightly annoyed that I’m on such an old MB and CPU.  I haven’t upgraded the sound card (Sound Blaster Z) or the PSU (EVGA 750w), but they seem quite sufficient for now.  I want to upgrade the front fans, but I can’t get the front panel off the case.
 

Some of the changes I made were based on opinions I’ve received here, and I’m very grateful to everyone who answered my questions.  So, thank you!  

*SKIP TO HERE IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THE UPGRADES I’VE MADE*

 

So that’s where I’m at and that brings me to my next question.  I’m really bothered that I have those two empty RAM slots and I’m trying to determine the best way to resolve that.  I have 2x16GB Dominator Platinum RGB 3200.  I could return that to Amazon and get 4x8GB.  The issue I have with this is that I’d have to be out about $250 while waiting for the new RAM to arrive, the old RAM to be shipped back, and the refund to process.  I’ve spent close to $1,300 on these recent upgrades, and now money is tight.

 

The other option I’m considering is the White Vengeance RGB Light Enhancement Kit at the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-VENGEANCE-Enhancement-memory-included/dp/B07L2SKQX9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OR8OXEJSKXGG&keywords=rgb%2Blight%2Benhancement%2Bkit&qid=1578639424&sprefix=Rgb%2Blight%2Benhan%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1&th=1

 

Obviously, this won’t match with the RAM I have, though I think it might look pretty cool with the black and white vibe I have going on.  Do you think it’ll look stupid?

 

Sorry.  I know this seems like a long post just to ask about RAM aesthetics.  Additionally, I’m open to other ideas for changes I can make if anyone has any thoughts.  Thanks!

 

[Uptivuptiz]

If you wanna go totally extreme you could buy the cheapest pair of Dominator Platinum RGBs that matches the speed and have tighter timings than the kit you already got. Then proceed to install them in the blank slots and go into BIOS and set timings so it matches that of your excisting 16GB kit. I know it's very extreme, but the result would satisfy a lot (especially if you're an OCD maniac like me )

[DoctorNick]

For white and black thingy, you could get 2x (2x8gb) kits like these, made with same sticks:

https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-Vengeance-3200MHz-Desktop-Memory/dp/B07D5SN1ZK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=vengeance+rgb+2x8+white&qid=1578640627&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-Vengeance-3200MHz-Desktop-Memory/dp/B07D1XCKWW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=vengeance+rgb+2x8&qid=1578640635&sr=8-1

 

As for cabling you might want to use the rubber gromit in front of the GPU for the PCI-e power cables. And in generel, you can hide cables alot better.

[Jurrunio]

Why not just put the two sticks you already have into the slots at the very middle, so they still run dual channel while removing the empty space between them? Just pretend you have a 2 slot board after that, the slots themselves arent very visible anyway. They worsen memory overclocking but so does getting 4 sticks.

 

41 minutes ago, Uptivuptiz said:

I know it's very extreme,

it's not extreme, it just isnt guaranteed to success. Why lower timings?

[Uptivuptiz]

32 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

Why not just put the two sticks you already have into the slots at the very middle, so they still run dual channel

If you put the RAM sticks in the middle they will not run dual channel. They will just run single channel.

34 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

Why lower timings?

It's just to avoid possible system instablilities.

[lerodemmy]

34 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

They worsen memory overclocking but so does getting 4 sticks.

Really?  Does that mean I won’t be able to get 3200 MHz out of the 4x8GB kit?

[Kisai]

1 hour ago, lerodemmy said:

I’m really bothered that I have those two empty RAM slots and I’m trying to determine the best way to resolve that.  I have 2x16GB Dominator Platinum RGB 3200.  I could return that to Amazon and get 4x8GB.  The issue I have with this is that I’d have to be out about $250 while waiting for the new RAM to arrive, the old RAM to be shipped back, and the refund to process.  I’ve spent close to $1,300 on these recent upgrades, and now money is tight.

 

I'd suggest not bothering returning it if you like it. Just arrange it in dual-channel mode right now, and then when you can afford buying an entire 32 or 64GB kit just sell the previous one. 

[NineEyeRon]

My opinion:

 

Broccoli > Kale > all other vegetables

[Boyohan]

1 hour ago, lerodemmy said:

So over the last few weeks I’ve been trying to modernize my PC, upgrading the SSD, RAM, rear fan, liquid cooler/radiator and graphics card.  I probably should’ve started with the motherboard and CPU (Z170 Pro Gaming and i7 6700K) as I bought them almost four years ago.  However, I had never upgraded anything in a computer on my own before, and that seemed like a really involved process that I was afraid to mess up.

 

As of right now, the system is running great and I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve done, though slightly annoyed that I’m on such an old MB and CPU.  I haven’t upgraded the sound card (Sound Blaster Z) or the PSU (EVGA 750w), but they seem quite sufficient for now.  I want to upgrade the front fans, but I can’t get the front panel off the case.
 

Some of the changes I made were based on opinions I’ve received here, and I’m very grateful to everyone who answered my questions.  So, thank you!  

*SKIP TO HERE IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THE UPGRADES I’VE MADE*

 

So that’s where I’m at and that brings me to my next question.  I’m really bothered that I have those two empty RAM slots and I’m trying to determine the best way to resolve that.  I have 2x16GB Dominator Platinum RGB 3200.  I could return that to Amazon and get 4x8GB.  The issue I have with this is that I’d have to be out about $250 while waiting for the new RAM to arrive, the old RAM to be shipped back, and the refund to process.  I’ve spent close to $1,300 on these recent upgrades, and now money is tight.

 

The other option I’m considering is the White Vengeance RGB Light Enhancement Kit at the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-VENGEANCE-Enhancement-memory-included/dp/B07L2SKQX9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OR8OXEJSKXGG&keywords=rgb%2Blight%2Benhancement%2Bkit&qid=1578639424&sprefix=Rgb%2Blight%2Benhan%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1&th=1

 

Obviously, this won’t match with the RAM I have, though I think it might look pretty cool with the black and white vibe I have going on.  Do you think it’ll look stupid?

 

Sorry.  I know this seems like a long post just to ask about RAM aesthetics.  Additionally, I’m open to other ideas for changes I can make if anyone has any thoughts.  Thanks!

I have a few thoughts...

 

Yes I believe that having two different sets of RAM like dominator + vengeance pro would look weird.

Maybe not bad but definitely weird. 

 

Also on your thoughts about the annoyance you have on the CPU. 

Since it is an overclockable i7 with hyperthreading I wouldn't worry to much for at least 1-2 years.

These days I feel that having a decent 4C/8T CPU (like the 6700K/7700K) is actually better than a modern i5 with 6C/6T.

It may not be quite as fast but it should last you longer as more games will probably utilize a higher thread count then they do today. 

 

[Jurrunio]

8 hours ago, Uptivuptiz said:

If you put the RAM sticks in the middle they will not run dual channel. They will just run single channel.

They will. On boards with 2 DIMM slots per memory channel, the 2 slots sharing the same channel will be placed right next to each other. Putting them on the middle will let them run dual channel, though the uneven memory trace length connecting to different sticks will make reaching high speeds, say 4000MHz really difficult if not impossible.

 

8 hours ago, Uptivuptiz said:

It's just to avoid possible system instablilities.

Nope it won't, because the sticks already there may not be stable with 4 sticks at the same settings.

 

8 hours ago, lerodemmy said:

Really?  Does that mean I won’t be able to get 3200 MHz out of the 4x8GB kit?

You could because 3200MHz is really easy for Intel memory controllers, but it's easier to just rearrange the two sticks.

[Uptivuptiz]

On 1/10/2020 at 6:22 PM, Jurrunio said:

They will. On boards with 2 DIMM slots per memory channel, the 2 slots sharing the same channel will be placed right next to each other. Putting them on the middle will let them run dual channel, though the uneven memory trace length connecting to different sticks will make reaching high speeds, say 4000MHz really difficult if not impossible.

That seems kinda strange... I took a look in the manual for the motherboard that they are using and it recommends that you install RAM with an empty slot in between each DIMM

[Jurrunio]

25 minutes ago, Uptivuptiz said:

That seems kinda strange... I took a look in the manual for the motherboard that they are using and it recommends that you install RAM with an empty slot in between each DIMM

None of them recommend overclocking either. you can totally go against them