RAM Limit

[krex93]

Hi guys, so I have a feeling this may be a stupid question, but I thought I would ask anyway.

 

Do mobo's have a limit as to the maximum memory?

 

Why I ask is because I am having an issue again, which I kinda fixed before, but now it is happening again and how i fixed it before is not working. (Please see link for details of previous problem; but long story short, I would only be able to game for about 30 min before audio and video would start stuttering).

 

So this problem arose again. Instead of 16GB Ram, I now have 32GB total. (4x 8GB) sticks. It is the G.Skill RipJaws V F4-3000C15Q-32VRB; DDR4-3000. The previous kit I had was the G.Skill RipJaws V (2x 8GB kit) F4-2800C15D-16GVRB. For the current model (3000 MHz) RAM it had a size of 16GB, and for the former (2800MHz) RAM, it had both 16gb and 32gb in the table.

 

I noticed that in the booklet for my mobo (Asus ROG Maximus VIII Hero) for the current kit i am using (32GB) it showed a max size of 16gb. But for the previous kit i was using (16gb) it had 32gb and 16gb for total sizes. (see pics/ attachments).

 

 

So do these tables show the max RAM i can use for that particular model? And would this explain why i am having this problem. I would have just thought, more RAM for my PC would be better.

 

Further, I noticed that when i was idle, and had some programs open like chrome, mozilla, steam, etc... in task manager it had memory usage as 4.4gb, and in my other kit it was like 2.4gb. Would this just be because i had more RAM available to use?.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Lordmac14]

The limiting factors are 

• how much RAM your Cpu can take (which in your case isn't the problem)
• how many slots your m/b has 
• Memory speed

So as long as you don't have too many 'sticks' of RAM, you can within reason have as much as you want (or as much capacity can be crammed onto each stick)

 

Your problem seems to be RAM speeds and types but i don't really know anything to help. It seems like its a more specific issue as obviously the computer is functioning at least for a while - like its compatible but not fully

[krex93]

Thanks. My MOBO has 4 DIMM slots. each slot is currently fitted with the 3000mhz RAM kit (total 32gb).

[Technous285]

The RAM modules and kits printed in a motherboard's manual are those that the company has tested and verified before launching the board, I think.

I've had a fair few DDR3 boards and even my new DDR4/X99 board use RAM sticks not mentioned in the manual and the systems worked just fine, as long as the max speed of the sticks aren't more than what the board is rated to handle (with or without overclocking).

 

As for the idling thing and RAM usage - yeah, it's likely the programs taking a bit more memory than before, DEFINITELY Windows chewing up more RAM than it would on a smaller amount of RAM.