Another "2 or 4 sticks" question :P

[Mustey]

Must be about 40% of the questions here so I will be concise:

System:
11600k
Gigabyte Z490 AORUS PRO AX

Option A (4 sticks)
Get another kit like mine: Crucial Ballistix (2 x 8GB) 3600 MHz CL16 (16-18-18-38)
- The kit I found has those exact same specs but the SKU is different - any risk they won't match speeds or crash?
- I'll have to mod the CPU fan a bit; shift it higher than the heatsink (probably losing some CFM?) to clear

Option B (2 sticks)
I found pretty cheap the Corsair Vengeance Pro 32GB (2 x 16GB) 3600 MHz CL18 (18-22-22-42)
- I think there was some performance gain in Intel if you use 4 sticks?
- Isn't the CL16 timing better?

AFAIK, Zen-3 has a rougher memory controller and doesn't like 4 sticks but that's not an issue with Intel?

I know it's splitting hairs probably but it's nice to talk about it - well, it's nice for me because I only ever have to do it once in a few years

 

[mickyflinn]

Intel are way more forgiving running 4 sticks than AMD but its a safer bet to get 2 sticks of memory running correctly.

C16 v c18 is miniscule performance difference and running 4 dimms were splitting hairs .

Flip a coin.

 

[Mustey]

I have to figure what's more of a hassle then: Mod the fan and have anxiety that I am missing out CFM on my Intel-Room-Heater... Or deal with ebay, selling my 2x8 kit
I'll go with the 2 stick option and sell the kit a little cheap so that some kid can have fun (I was not so lucky before I had my own income).

 

[mickyflinn]

I have to figure what's more of a hassle then: Mod the fan and have anxiety that I am missing out CFM on my Intel-Room-Heater... Or deal with ebay, selling my 2x8 kit
I'll go with the 2 stick option and sell the kit a little cheap so that some kid can have fun (I was not so lucky before I had my own income).

I would go the 2 sticks also, you can always sell the other kit locally or at cex.