4X8 or 2X16 ram for a 5950X build

[Des.nb]

Hi all,

 

I'm a bit confused about the best ram configuration for my 5950X build. I'm interested in getting 32GB at 3600MHz.

I was ready to get 2 sticks as I always do, but I've also read there might be an advantage to 4 sticks with Ryzen.

 

I'm considering these two from G.Skill:

F4-3600C16D-32GTZN 2X16

F4-3600C16Q-32GTZN 4X8

 

Which is the best way to go? I'm not planning on upgrading ram in the future.

 

Thanks

[TheLawyerMan]

If you aren't planning on upgrading in the future, go for 4x8, but if you're buying a 5950x, I'd just go all out and get 4x16, but that's just me.

[xg32]

10 minutes ago, Des.nb said:

.

depending on how much ram you'll actually need 4x8 or 4x16

[gal-m]

17 minutes ago, Des.nb said:

Which is the best way to go?

 

7 minutes ago, xg32 said:

depending on how much ram you'll actually need 4x8 or 4x16

These are not the only factors to consider. 

Ryzen 5000 works best with 2x dual rank (2x16GB), though performance is verrryyy similar on 4x single rank dimms, at least from what I've seen - someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I might have mixed things up (apologies if I did).

 

So: go for 2x16 for better performance and an option to upgrade in the future.

 

To be honest with you @Des.nb: if you're buying a 5950X you might just as well go for 64GB, since I bet you're going to be doing some serious work on that thing and capacity > performance in that case.

[gal-m]

Aha! I believe I was correct: 

Watch this vid, I think it's going to explain thing nicely from the couple of minutes I've seen so far @Des.nb

 

[xg32]

6 minutes ago, gal-m said:

.

 

he'd have to physically see the 16gb sticks to be 100% sure they are dual rank. The only surefire way is getting 4 sticks, and 8gb sticks can tune alot better to maximize the cpu if he doesn't need 64gb ram.

[gal-m]

1 minute ago, xg32 said:

he'd have to physically see the 16gb sticks to be 100% sure they are dual rank

Not really.. some online stores actually have this information displayed.

 

Even better: ASUS motherboards have a nice handy dandy QVL pdf spreadsheet for official RAM compatibility, which includes rank specs. He just has to CTRL+C the exact RAM, CTRL+F and CTRL+V. 

[freeagent]

I saw noticeable gains going from two single rank to four single ranks. Get the tightest sets you can afford and enjoy

[gal-m]

Just now, freeagent said:

saw noticeable gains going from two single rank to four single ranks.

Definitely. Basically, it's optimal to have FOUR ranks in total, so: 4xsingle or 2xdual.

[Des.nb]

15 hours ago, gal-m said:

 

These are not the only factors to consider. 

Ryzen 5000 works best with 2x dual rank (2x16GB), though performance is verrryyy similar on 4x single rank dimms, at least from what I've seen - someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I might have mixed things up (apologies if I did).

 

So: go for 2x16 for better performance and an option to upgrade in the future.

 

To be honest with you @Des.nb: if you're buying a 5950X you might just as well go for 64GB, since I bet you're going to be doing some serious work on that thing and capacity > performance in that case.

Thanks, didn't know it works best with 2x dual rank. I started this thread because I saw reports on possible advantage to 4 sticks. Specifically Gamers Nexus video on the subject.

Didn't know about Hardware Canucks video.

15 hours ago, ALLSTAR1JAC2899 said:

If you aren't planning on upgrading in the future, go for 4x8, but if you're buying a 5950x, I'd just go all out and get 4x16, but that's just me.

I might go eventually with 64GB but the issue is the same - 4 sticks vs 2 sticks. You think that 4 single rank preforms better than 2 dual rank?

 

14 hours ago, freeagent said:

I saw noticeable gains going from two single rank to four single ranks. Get the tightest sets you can afford and enjoy

One more vote for 4.

 

 

I've checked the QVL for the motherboard I'm going with - Asus Crosshair VIII Dark Hero and the QVL on G.Skill.

The QVL for the motherboard only includes the 4 sticks version F4-3600C16Q-32GTZN 4X8.

However, the QVL of both versions from G.Skill, include the motherboard. So no issue with compatibility for either version.

 

I edited the first post to add a poll.

[gal-m]

1 hour ago, Des.nb said:

You think that 4 single rank preforms better than 2 dual rank?

@Des.nb you can actually remove the poll, because it doesn't matter. Hardware Canucks reported 2x dual rank is a bit better, but I mean.. we're talking about a 1% performance difference.

The point is: to maximize performance (on Ryzen 5000) you need to make sure you have 4 ranks of memory installed.