Mismatching RAM

[candycane]

I’m thinking about upgrading RAM and currently I have 2x8 gb of crucial ballistix ram. This is the Amazon listing: Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2) CL16 BL2K8G32C16U4B (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TRRT16/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6G45HDZ8F8210P7NMM7D?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I found a really good deal on a single stick of 16gb g skill. This is the Amazon listing: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Intel Z170 Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16S-16GVK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171GQXME/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_K88M8722WY2D2HMQKTAC

Would it be fine for me to use these 3 sticks on my system (Ryzen 7 3800x and z370 chipset, motherboard is asrock gaming k4) and would I lose performance since ryzen likes dual channel?

[Vapour202]

While sometimes possible to do as you're describing, it's generally not a very good idea to do at all. Voltages from one ram set to another can differ, the speeds at which they work can differ, and a lot of the time, though possible, you end up with a very unstable use at best, and a non-functioning pc at the worst. Pretty sure Linus even made a video about this exact topic a few years ago on YT, so I'd suggest watching that cause I probably missed something.

 

Tl;dr not a good idea.

[maartendc]

17 minutes ago, candycane said:

...would I lose performance since ryzen likes dual channel?

I would think so, yes. It would run in single channel with 3 sticks I would assume, not 100% sure.

 

Also generally only use the exact same RAM sticks brand and model number. It might work fine, it might not.

[candycane]

2 minutes ago, Vapour202 said:

While sometimes possible to do as you're describing, it's generally not a very good idea to do at all. Voltages from one ram set to another can differ, the speeds at which they work can differ, and a lot of the time, though possible, you end up with a very unstable use at best, and a non-functioning pc at the worst. Pretty sure Linus even made a video about this exact topic a few years ago on YT, so I'd suggest watching that cause I probably missed something.

 

Tl;dr not a good idea.

yea so I made sure that the voltage(1.35V), speed(3200mhz) and clock latency(CL16) was the same on both. However, what I am skeptical about is the sticks are different sizes (2 8gb sticks and 1 16gb stick). I was also wondering if using 3 sticks will mess with dual channel since Ryzen likes dual channel.

[candycane]

6 minutes ago, maartendc said:

I would think so, yes. It would run in single channel with 3 sticks I would assume, not 100% sure.

 

Also generally only use the exact same RAM sticks brand and model number. It might work fine, it might not.

yea so I made sure that the voltage(1.35V), speed(3200mhz) and clock latency(CL16) was the same on both. However, what I am skeptical about is the sticks are different sizes (2 8gb sticks and 1 16gb stick). I was also wondering if using 3 sticks will mess with dual channel since Ryzen likes dual channel.

[candycane]

Just now, candycane said:

yea so I made sure that the voltage(1.35V), speed(3200mhz) and clock latency(CL16) was the same on both. However, what I am skeptical about is the sticks are different sizes (2 8gb sticks and 1 16gb stick). I was also wondering if using 3 sticks will mess with dual channel since Ryzen likes dual channel.

Also I think AMD has flex mode so 2 sticks will run in dual channel while the third will be single. I’m also wondering for flex mode, does the PC automatically default to using the dual channel ram and only uses the single channel once the dual channel is capacity is used up.

[Cyracus]

Just now, candycane said:

I made sure that the voltage(1.35V), speed(3200mhz) and clock latency(CL16) was the same on both

3200 c16 is a loose enough bin that they can use just about any ram chips. Different ram chips don't always play nicely together, sometimes you won't be able to get them over base frequency, sometimes they won't even boot. It's a better idea to get a kit of 2x16 and sell your 2x8 kit and avoid compatibility problems entirely