Dual Channel Question

[hi-p]

The motherboard supports Dual Channel and has 4 DIMM slots.

I want to purchase 32 GB to begin with (for 3D applications) but it's likely I might go for 64 GB at some point.

I got told 2x16 RAM is better than 4x8 RAM if both are dual channel kits, with same frequency and latency.

My question are:

Could I just buy the 2x16, and later on just get another kit of the same type to push it to 64 GB? (I fear compatibility issues)

Or do I go 4x8, and whenever I want to go for 64 GB I would have to sell my kit and buy a 4x16 kit?

 

[aquielisunari]

The motherboard supports Dual Channel and has 4 DIMM slots.

I want to purchase 32 GB to begin with (for 3D applications) but it's likely I might go for 64 GB at some point.

I got told 2x16 RAM is better than 4x8 RAM if both are dual channel kits, with same frequency and latency.

My question are:

Could I just buy the 2x16, and later on just get another kit of the same type to push it to 64 GB? (I fear compatibility issues)

Or do I go 4x8, and whenever I want to go for 64 GB I would have to sell my kit and buy a 4x16 kit?

In my mind it would seem that having all the slots occupied would be harder on the memory controller. In your shoes I would purchase 2 x 16GB and upgrade when necessary.

If you want to be 100% sure you can Google the motherboard's make and model number. You then visit the board's site and click on Support and then Memory QVL(qualified vendor list). Find your desired 2 x 16GB RAM kit. To be clear, that list is a general guideline. The first gen Ryzen was an exception to the rule. Those CPU's were very choosey about which RAM they would accept.

 

[Dunlop0078]

2x16gb is not necessarily "better". Having 2 sticks of RAM on a dual channel motherboard will put less stress on the CPU memory controller than 4 sticks in a dual channel mobo. This is probably not relevant to you in any way. The only time I would say it is relevant is for people looking to run a very fast memory kit or want to overclock their memory kit.

That said I would probably go with a 2x16gb kit and hope they still make that same memory kit when you need more and hope that it's compatible if they do. If it doesn't work you would be in the same situation as if you had bought a 4x8gb kit.

Why do you think you will need 64gb of ram or for that matter 32gb of ram? I hope this is for a workstation PC and not a gaming pc.