Best option to upgrade from 8 GB to 16 GB RAM

[YusufDoc55]

I currently run 2x4 GB 1600/C9 memory. I want to upgrade to 16 GB. I have been going over many details by looking at other posts and online forums.

I have a FX6300 CPU and my motherboard supports 4xDIMM, Max. 32GB, DDRR3 2133(O.C)/1866 and so on.

I have the below questions:

1. Should I run 4x4 GB or go with a new 2x8GB set.?

2. If I am getting a new 2x8 set, should I go with 1600/C9/C10 OR 1866/C9/C10 OR if I am getting 2133/C9/C10 for very little difference in price? Is it worth going for 2133MHZ? Will there be a very noticeable difference in performance?

The reason I need more memory is because I run home labs on virtual machines for practice and have to keep 4-5 VMs on simultaneously and need to allocate certain amount of memory for each VM.

And also for gaming of course.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

 

[Tradesman1]

Go with 2x8GB, that way all 16 is guaranteed to play nice, adding another 2x4GB is no guarantee. With your CPU I'd go 1866, not all 6300s can handle 2133

 

[YusufDoc55]

Go with 2x8GB, that way all 16 is guaranteed to play nice, adding another 2x4GB is no guarantee. With your CPU I'd go 1866, not all 6300s can handle 2133

Hey, Thanks for the suggestion. I went for 2x8GB 1866MHZ. But I have another problem.

When I check my RAM speed with CPU z, I can see that it is running at 1333 by default. When I try to change the memory frequency in my BIOS to 1866, after saving and resetting, my PC does not boot at all. I had to do a hard shutdown and switch it on again. And then it showed me a screen saying overclocking settings failed. How am I overclocking the RAM when it's speed is actually 1866?

I am not very knowledgeable about overclocking. But there is a tab in my BIOS, Ai tweaker and the Overclock tuner is set to auto.

Any idea what is causing this? Please suggest on what I should do.
Thanks.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AkHkh0QHjrrLh9x_-U2W6sXIbt7m2A

 

[Tradesman1]

What the model # of the DRAM? Can go int and try starting with a single stick, see if you can get to BIOS, if so raise DRAM voltage + 0.05 and set the CPU/NB voltage to 1.25

 

[YusufDoc55]

What the model # of the DRAM? Can go int and try starting with a single stick, see if you can get to BIOS, if so raise DRAM voltage + 0.05 and set the CPU/NB voltage to 1.25

I am using Corsair CMZ16GX3M2A1866C10 Vengeance 16GB. OK I tried what you suggested and below is the result:

1. With 1 stick, set voltages as suggested and RAM frequency set to auto. PC booted and ran fine.
2. With 1 stick, set voltages as suggested and RAM frequency set to 1866. PC did not boot and got error overclocking failed.
3. With 2 sticks, set voltages as suggested and RAM frequency set to 1866. PC did not boot and got error overclocking failed.
4. With 2 sticks, set voltages as suggested and RAM frequency set to 1600. PC working fine.

After doing all these tests and a few more ( increasing voltages of CPU, CPU/NB and DRAM and setting RAM frequency to 1866, which failed by the way) I can see that the moment I set RAM frequency to 1866, everything breaks down. Whereas no errors are faced when setting it to 1600.

Could it be possible that they sent me 1600 MHz sticks instead of 1866 MHz? Is there any way of conforming that? I cannot arrive to any other conclusion because I checked and confirmed that my motherboard supports 1866 MHz frequency before placing the order. These are my specs in case you need them to check further:

Motherboard - M5A99X EVO R2.0
CPU - AMD FX 6300
New RAM - Corsair CMZ16GX3M2A1866C10 Vengeance 16GB
GPU - MSI AMD/ATI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GB
PSU - Corsair 650TX

 

[Tradesman1]

Ok for 1866 next try DRAM to 1.6 - if no joy keep at 1.6 and raise the CPU//NB to 1.3

 

[YusufDoc55]

Ok for 1866 next try DRAM to 1.6 - if no joy keep at 1.6 and raise the CPU//NB to 1.3

No luck. Still didn't work. Any other suggestions? Currently I am running at 1600 MHz with DRAM at 1.5 and CPU at 1.25.
Do you think the problem is with my motherboard or the RAM?