Ram Configuration on New Threadripper Pro 8 Channel Platforms

[Dustin Pestlin]

I recently purchased a Threadripper pro processor (3955wx)with 16 core/32 threads. I have learned that it actually has 8 channel memory. I will be using the system for video editing – mostly 4k 10 bit footage with plenty of special effects. I will be using either a Nividia 3060 or 3080ti for my GPU. I fast 4th gen NVME drives to work from. My motherboard is the ASUS Prime TRX40 Pro. Here are my 3 questions:

1. What would be the optimal ram configuration to make themost out of these 8 channels?For example, for 64gb of ram, would it be 32gbx2, 16x4, or8x8?For 128gb, would it be 16x8 or 32x4?

I have noticed that the ram recommended for my motherboard(ASUS Prime TRX40 Pro) has better specs when I install less in my system (forexample, I can find 3600mhz with low latency at 32gbx2, but 32gbx4 or 33gbx8drops to 3200Mhz).

2. Would it be beneficial to sacrifice a bit of MHz (3600down to 3200) in order to populate more of the 8 channels. In other words, with video editing, would I really benefit from having faster ram, or is more ram better? The final part of my question is:

3. Since I am only editing 4k footage, I only really “need”between 32 and 64gb of ram. Would I BENEFIT (faster speed) in any way having 128gb of ram?Especially since processor has 8 channel memory?Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mickyflinn]

Hi theres is no real advantage going tighter timmings and i would go 4 x 16gb in quad channel leaving room ro upgrade further if needeed.

3200mhz v 3600mhz isnt going to be a big diffrence in performance also but if its simmlar in price then go for the 3600mhz.

You don't need quad channel ram just 2 packs of the same ram totalling 4 to run in quad channel.

 

[tommoT.Striker]

That motherboard ASUS Prime TRX40 Pro is a normal 4 channel Threadripper motherboard, so that won't work with your fancy Threadripper Pro CPU. I imagine you're looking for the 8 Channel WRX80 motherboard?

As for your questions I too would go for 64GB with 4x 16gb memory modules. You then can expand to 128GB with 8 channels if you need it.

In terms of RAM and you're editing 4K footage, it depends on your workflow, Adobe suite or Davinci Resolve? I use DaVinci and whilst 4K will be fine with 32gb maybe less, I still want to use my machine. The great thing about the box I have, is I can render, encode, run VMs, I don't need to shut things down and still use my PC the way I want. When the whole thing is working i'll use about 70-80% of my 64GB - at a big push 94%. So I wouldn't recommend 32GB, more like 64GB. But I know people on here that have Threadripper builds with 'just' 32GB - I'm sure they're happy. Another point is, do you need 8 channels? I've not sure my workloads are much constrained with even just two. A 5950X could do a lot of what I do, with the same 64GB of RAM. But I need run a lot of storage and at least two GPUs.

128GB? would only be if you're doing some serious heavy work. At least 8K edits, lots of memory hungry VMs, or big CPU not GPU based renders.