Upgrade RAM or change motherboard for more slots?

Posted by Terrarian_69@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 3 comments

Hey guys, I need some advice. I’m a beginner when it comes to building/upgrading PCs, so sorry if this is a basic question.

My current PC specs:

Ryzen 5 5600GT (iGPU)

ASUS PRIME A520M-K (2 RAM slots)

8GB RAM (2x4gb)

I’m planning to upgrade my RAM mainly for smoother performance in games like Monster Hunter: World and general use.

Here’s the situation:

My dad suggested that instead of buying 2x8GB (16GB), we should get a motherboard with 4 RAM slots so we can use cheaper 4GB sticks (like 4x4GB or adding more later). I’m not sure if that’s actually a good idea or not.

From what I understand:

My current motherboard already supports up to 64GB Dual channel (2x8GB) might be better than 4x4GB. Integrated graphics benefit from faster/more efficient RAM.

So my questions are:

Is it worth replacing the motherboard just to get more RAM slots?

Is 4x4GB actually worse than 2x8GB in terms of performance/stability?

Would 12GB (8+4) be a decent middle ground if budget is tight?

I don’t really care about ultra graphics, just want stable FPS and less stuttering.

Thanks in advance!

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SwordsAndElectrons@reddit

Probably not. If you buy a set of 4 sticks plus a motherboard then you won't save anything. If you reuse the 2x4GB you have now you'll need to run the nemory at the slowest of the two sets capabilities, and you'll still have to find a hella cheap motherboard to get this to come in below the cost of a 2x8GB kit.

No. That's a bad idea. Modern desktop processors are all dual channel. You want matched pairs.

PowerF1805@reddit

Hi There! honestly, don't replace the motherboard just for more slots. It's actually better to use 2 sticks instead of 4 because of Dual Channel technology, if you add two more sticks later, you might end up using a different brand or frequency, which often causes stability issues or crashes. Since you have a Ryzen 5600GT, your iGPU relies heavily on RAM speed (MHz), so a solid 2x8GB kit is much better than 4x4GB.

CtrlAltDesolate@reddit

Both the gpu (or lack of) and ram are below the recommended specs. From google:

Recommended System Requirements (1080p/30-60fps High Settings) OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit) Processor: Intel Core i7-3770 / Intel Core i3-8350 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Memory: 8 GB RAM (16GB recommended for smoother performance) Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 570X (4GB VRAM)