how many modules should i get?
- Thread starter humanevil
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Man of Honour
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2 x 16gb gives you option to upgrade in the future unless you want to fill up the slots with rgb ram.
Soldato
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Isn't 2 x 16GB dual rank effectively the same as 4 x 8GB single rank? Maybe I should force my self to watch that video.
Save your time, you're correct. The 1.1 million subscriber YouTube channel that people worship is ran by someone who doesn't know the difference between single and dual rank memory.
I still can't believe it myself.
You want to be careful about this as even matching 2 kits of the same part number can be tricky as kits are sold because they are binned and tested at their rated speed.
There are two different channels which show that the Zen 3 prefers 4 sticks. Not just Gamers Nexus. I cannot remember what the other channel was though. If you do, go for 4 sticks, go for a matched 4 stick set. However, the motherboard RAM config can affect this as well. There are two different configs and I believe that one is better than the other. Someone more experienced in this field might be able to fill the gaps as that is the extent of my knowledge.
Associate
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It's the opposite, less dimms are preferable.
This article posted by AMD in 2017 is a far better source for a beginner than the GamersNexus video. Shame they didn't read it before posting an OMGWOWLOL video 3 years later 
Soldato
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there are different factors at play and each has a varying effect on performance, it depends how much RAM you want, what modules you are buying and how much manual tuning/overclocking you intend to do imho
as I understand it:
- memory latency (low CL) at high frequency is the single biggest factor and it tends to be Single Rank kits that deliver the higher specs, thus if you want more than 16GB you have to consider using 4 Dimms slots
- very high frequencies benefit from 2 slot usage but you have to start messing with the ratios unless the CPU is under LN2, and this could cause a performance penalty
- using 2 slots allows you to upgrade in the future but if you needed say 64GB during the lifetime of your PC you probably should look at Threadripper and workstation class motherboards
- 4 x SR = 2 x DR more or less anyway
- 4 x DR might cause you to have to lower the frequency and increase timings due to the load on the IMC
If you just want to install some RAM and forget about it 2 slot DR is probably the better option just get low latency stuff like CL16 or less
as I understand it:
- memory latency (low CL) at high frequency is the single biggest factor and it tends to be Single Rank kits that deliver the higher specs, thus if you want more than 16GB you have to consider using 4 Dimms slots
- very high frequencies benefit from 2 slot usage but you have to start messing with the ratios unless the CPU is under LN2, and this could cause a performance penalty
- using 2 slots allows you to upgrade in the future but if you needed say 64GB during the lifetime of your PC you probably should look at Threadripper and workstation class motherboards
- 4 x SR = 2 x DR more or less anyway
- 4 x DR might cause you to have to lower the frequency and increase timings due to the load on the IMC
If you just want to install some RAM and forget about it 2 slot DR is probably the better option just get low latency stuff like CL16 or less