2x 64GB vs 1x 128GB ram(Example)

[soundcrack]

ive searched and found nothing on this subject, so im here to ask about it.

i know of dual and quad channel kits, but what about mixing things up, does it matter?

128GB kit vs 2x 64GB kits
64GB kits vs 2x 32GB kits
32GB kits vs 2x 16GB kits
16GB kits vs 2x 8GB kits
8GB kits vs 2x 4GB kits
Etc...

a detailed example: x99 mobo
16GBx8(128GB), 3000MHz, 14-14-14-34, DDR4 Kit

vs

16GBx4(64GB), 3000MHz, 14-14-14-34, DDR4 Kit, filling the first 4 of 8 slots
With
16GBx4(64GB), 3000MHz, 14-14-14-34, DDR4 Kit, filling the last 4 of the 8 slots

each Kit is its own, 128 fills 8 slots, the 2x 64GB kits fill 4 slots each(8 total),
if they are all the same brand and series, does it matter?
is it just the amount that is in a package sold?
or is each kit setup to work better alone?
will there be a difference between these 2 setups above?

side question, can you cross different branded ram and/or series?(corsair with G.Skill)

 

[CTurbo]

It's always best to maximize RAM use the minimum number of slots as memory channels.

Example for dual channel RAM, 2x8GB is better than 1x16GB, or 4x4GB. Note: 1x16Gb performs the worst out if the three by running single channel. 4x4Gb also runs in dual channel, but adds extra unnecessary stress on the memory controller.

X99 supports quad channel so you would want to get the largest 4x?GB as you can afford.

Yes you can officially cross different brands even at different speeds, but this is not recommended as it could lead to instability issues. Also, all of the different sticks would run at the lowest stick's speed.

 

[rhysiam]

RAM can be quite picky and sometimes won't play nice.

The reason the larger kits exist is because they've been tested and validated to all work together. You could buy 2 x 64GB kits, or 4 x 32GB kits, and they would *probably* work together. In fact, you'd be unlucky if they didn't. But there's no guarantee they would and you'd have a harder time getting support from the manufacturer.

Same response with different brands, although often timings and/or voltages can be different as well, so that further complicates things. But again, it will *probably* work.

 

[guanyu210379]

mix and matching different kits of RAM is a matter of luck.
If you are lucky, they will work.

 

[Tradesman1]

Best to get full amount of DRAM you want in a single package - that way they have been tested to play nice and are guaranteed to do so. Mixing (even two identical sets) offers no guarantees, see items 2 and 6 in my fiction article

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html

 

[soundcrack]

Best to get full amount of DRAM you want in a single package - that way they have been tested to play nice and are guaranteed to do so. Mixing (even two identical sets) offers no guarantees, see items 2 and 6 in my fiction article

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html

in regards to item 6 on your article, i have come up with a comparison example, what would you say is best, possible instability aside.

G.Skill Ripjaws V(F4-3000C14Q2-128GVKD), 16GBx8(128GB), 3000MHz, 14-14-14-34, DDR4 quad channel Kit,
filling all 8 slots of a X99 mobo

vs

GeIL Super Luce(GLR464GB300C13QC), 16GBx4(64GB), 3000MHz, 13-13-13-35, DDR4 quad channel kit,
2 of these kits, the MHz Matches G.Skill, both DDR4 quad channel same as G.Skill, but tighter timings and with
2 kits, the same amount of GBs, would this not be a better choice?

 

[Tradesman1]

With the Geil you'll be trying to mix 2 sets of DRAM which offers no guarantees, and 13 is tight for 3000, so might well have to loosen them to run two sets and add additional DRAM and MC voltage

 

[soundcrack]

so might well have to loosen them to run two sets and add additional DRAM and MC voltage

i have no idea what you mean

 

[Tradesman1]

OK, the mixing of sets offering no guarantees is already explained, which is what you'd be doing with 2 sets of 4x16GB Geil vs a single set of 8x16GB GSkill.

ON the CL issue as data rates and amounts of DRAM increase the CL generally needs to go up also from the larger load and actual speed, The Geil sticks at CL 13 are very tight timings for 3000 DRAM in the 3000 data rate, so trying to get 2 sets of them to play (at CL13) will probably be difficult - if they will play at all

 

[soundcrack]

OK, the mixing of sets offering no guarantees is already explained, which is what you'd be doing with 2 sets of 4x16GB Geil vs a single set of 8x16GB GSkill.

ON the CL issue as data rates and amounts of DRAM increase the CL generally needs to go up also from the larger load and actual speed, The Geil sticks at CL 13 are very tight timings for 3000 DRAM in the 3000 data rate, so trying to get 2 sets of them to play (at CL13) will probably be difficult - if they will play at all

kk, well i guess ill just have to stay within kits then, thanks for the help