Two or four sticks?

[jonchaz]

I'm considering upgrading to a Ryzen-based system before the end of the year, most likely with a 3700X CPU, an X570 motherboard and 32 GB of 3,600 mhz RAM.

From what I have read it seems that two sticks of RAM runs a little faster than four on an X570 but on the other hand single rank 8 GB sticks can be got with tighter timings than dual rank 16 GB ones. I've seen 32 GB two-stick kits with CAS 17-19-19-19-39 timing and a bit dearer four-stick kits with CAS 16-16-16-36 timing.

My question is, assuming both sets will run at 3,600 mhz at the advertised timings would I gain more from the tighter timings than I lose from running four sticks instead of two?

 

[MaXxBoulton]

My question is, assuming both sets will run at 3,600 mhz at the advertised timings would I gain more from the tighter timings than I lose from running four sticks instead of two?

The general rule as always been to run 2 sticks as there is less load on the memory controller.
This will help with both cpu and ram overclocking

 

[eeii]

This is true. 4 sticks you will usually have to run slower than 2 for Ryzen anyway.

 

[wookiee87]

got a quad channel 32gb set of 3600mhz rgb dominators on my x570 formula VIII and a 3900x with IF at 1800mhz, even got timmings of ram lower from (18,19,19,39 2t) to (16,18,18,36 1t), plus to top it off my 3900x is at 4.45ghz on all cores with smt on!

BEAST!

 

[Yaayuh!]

What motherboard do you have? If it has T-top on RAM then you may as well go and populate all 4 DIMMs.

 

[SonicSW20]

Start off with two sticks, leaves you with a simple future upgrade should you need more memory for some reason in the future.

 

[MaXxBoulton]

Start off with two sticks, leaves you with a simple future upgrade should you need more memory for some reason in the future.

This is the way to go

 

[jonchaz]

Thanks for the advice guys, so it seems the consensus is that faster and dearer quad channel RAM would be pointless as the overloaded memory controller would negate the advantages. It isn't likely I'd ever need more than 32 GB of RAM but using two sticks will also leave me more clearance for a big CPU cooler.

I won't be getting the system until mid-October at the earliest so I'm holding off on a final decision on the motherboard until the non-beta ABBA bioses are out and reviewed. Just want to see which company does the best job of sorting out their various X570 issues.

 

[MaXxBoulton]

quad channel RAM would be pointless

It would be dual channel not quad channel
The cpu/motherboard only supports dual channel.

 

[jonchaz]

Oops, senior moment I guess.

 

[Drumroll]

After upgrading from the 1600x to the 3600 (skipped the 2000 series), I went with 4 sticks instead 2, and I'm able to run the 3200 8pack memo at 3600, with the timings of the 3600MHz set, and lower voltage. I'm sure the timings can be tightened, but haven't tried yet.
Before was using the B350-f, now the X570-f. I assume the 3000 series is much less fussy about memory than the 1000 series. Can't tell about the 2000 series as haven't tried them.

 

[MaXxBoulton]

Oops, senior moment I guess.

We all have them

 

[Spook187]

Fill all slots up for the win every time that's what they are for

 

[MaXxBoulton]

Fill all slots up for the win every time that's what they are for

With 64gb sticks too, that's way they make them..

 

[Threepwood]

Thanks for the advice guys, so it seems the consensus is that faster and dearer quad channel RAM would be pointless as the overloaded memory controller would negate the advantages.

It used to be like that but ryzen 3000 is different.

Please read this article https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-3000-best-memory-timings,6310.html

 

[jonchaz]

It used to be like that but ryzen 3000 is different.

Please read this article https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-3000-best-memory-timings,6310.html

Thanks for the link Threepwood. Seems to be pretty conclusive that using all four slots is the best setup for Ryzen 3000.

 

[Threepwood]

Thanks for the link Threepwood. Seems to be pretty conclusive that using all four slots is the best setup for Ryzen 3000.

Hey! You're welcome

With the same latency 2 dual rank or 4 single rank sticks will give the best result compared to dual channel single rank ram. But yes, because single rank ram can clock higher with better latencies than dual rank ram it wins the race... x4 single rank 8GB sticks seems the sweet spot... Which means I need to get my hands on another two sticks of ram like mine really! Gah!