Should I buy DDR3 or wait for DDR4?

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 2, 2015

Phenom X6 1090t
GTX 660
Asus M5A97 LE R2.0
Cooler Master Hyper 512

Hi,

I have currently installed 2 x4 GB Corsair Vengeance (CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9) sticks running at 1600 Mhz with timings of 11-11-11-28 in dual channel on my system.

But it has lately become a bottle neck when I use my rendering programs like e-on vue and 3ds max. GTA V's memory leak has also prompted me to upgrade it.

Problem is one of my RAM slot is blocked by my cooler, so I only have one slot left around to play with.

Now the question is will a 8 GB module of the same Corsair stick be compatible or not? Will there be any performance dip? Or should I just get another 4GB module? Or should I wait for 6-7 months and completely overhaul my system to skylake? Though I do have my budget constraints.

digitaldoc · Jun 2, 2015

Adding one additional stick of RAM in some cases does not work out, and can have problems with system stability. This is why the matched sets get sold as a kit.

I would not add RAM to your system at this point, and hold out for Skylake.

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 3, 2015

Humm, well that's what I thought as well after going through some articles. But I don't get this thing with custom coolers, many people have them installed, so everyone's missing out on a RAM slot then? Or is there any workaround for this?

Tradesman1 · Jun 3, 2015

Do you have a Hyper 212? Don't know of a 512, if indeed it's the 212, you can adjust the fan upward and not lose any cooling, I have Trident X sticks under one on my Z87 and have probably used the 212 on well over 50 rigs, with full loads of DRAM

Moonstick2 · Jun 3, 2015

Some coolers on some motherboards block some RAM in the first slot. It's a common occurance but not a guaranteed one.For instance, your RAM has higher profile RAM heatsinks than others.

You can add a single 4GB or 8GB stick without introducing instabilities, but you'll lose dual channel performance (which is usually 5-10% over single). Instability is a dual-channel thing, where even nominally identical sticks don't always work well together and hence the reason for buying matched (i.e. tested) pairs.

If you've really no way to fit an extra RAM stick in the nearest slot and the RAM really is a bottleneck then you either get a 4/8 GB stick and go single channel or you buy 2x8 GB RAM and sell your 2x4 GB RAM to offset the cost. I don't see the sense in waiting if you need the performance now, unless you're 100% going to upgrade your CPU/motherboard/RAM when Skylake is released.

JOSHBLY · Jun 3, 2015

Honestly, if you are a gamer, you don't need DDR4 yet. I would honestly wait for more people to upgrade and for DDR4 to become commonplace.

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 4, 2015

Thanks a bunch for your input.

I made a mistake in the initial post, it's called the Cooler Master Hyper N520 and well after googling it seems like it's basically a 212 with fans on both sides. I've tried shifting the position of the cooler (One side currently faces the ceiling and the other towards GPU, seems against the airflow) but the AMD bracket of it is such that I can't change the direction. And you guys are right, I think DDR4 is a no go right now.

Should I just buy the 2 x 8 GB sticks then? I'm skeptical about installing a single third stick. I had that config on an older system with Corsair XMS3 modules and it kept failing the memtests, but worked fine in dual-channel. Or maybe I can buy one of those liquid coolers, that'll free the slot, but is it worth the upgrade?

Moonstick2 · Jun 4, 2015

I think that your most cost-effective solution will be to get 2x8 GB RAM and sell the 2x4 GB sticks that you have already.

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 4, 2015

Hey guys, I read through some more articles here, and many people have used 3 RAM modules, and there's a mention of 'Flex Mode' which lets you run two modules in dual channel and the third one in single channel.

So if that mode is compatible with my MOBO, wouldn't I be better off just getting another matching 4 GB module? Would there be any problems at all, I don't wanna deal with BSODs because of the third module.

Moonstick2 · Jun 4, 2015

Well that's a new one on me.

From the manual:

You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.

Reading around, it sounds like your motherboard would do what you describe. Will it be stable? Ummmm...who knows? I'd say that it should be, but I'm only guessing.

Tradesman1 · Jun 4, 2015

Moonstick2 :

______________________

This is AMD's copy/implementation of Intel's Flex Mode, but if they call it Flex they would have to pay royalties

digitaldoc · Jun 4, 2015

I would go with the two new ram modules- 2 x 8 GB.

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 5, 2015

Digitaldoc, I know, 16 GB RAM does sound tempting, but then I'll have to sell the current ones (can take a while) to justify the cost of getting new 8 GB modules. Moreover, I want to save money to give my system a complete overhaul in next 1 or 1 and 1/2 years, and by that time these DDR3 modules would probably go obsolete.

So I think going by replies of Moonstick2 and Tradesman1, this idea of installing a third module (AMD's so called flex mode) can work, and 4 GB RAM would certainly give me more headspace with gaming and rendering programs. And if it doesn't work, maybe I can remove one of the fans from the cooler, and install another matching module to complete the dual channel configuration?

What do you say guys?

Tradesman1 · Jun 5, 2015

I myself don't recommend mixing, not saying it can't be done, I spend a lot of time helping people here to get mixed DRAM to work, but there's no guarantees, and if it simply won't play, your stuck with odd stick(s) (if no refund allowed) or possibly return postage and/or restocking fees

Moonstick2 · Jun 5, 2015

If it won't stay stable running in mixed mode, then you ought to be able to force it into single-channel mode when it should be stable. (I've never known single-channel memory to have issues with mixed sticks.)

The real-world benefit of dual-channel varies with application. Some benchmarks are here, and the differences are marginal. Chances are it'll be something you'd only notice through benchmarking, whereas on the other hand you say you'll get a definite improvement in your rendering with more RAM.

The trouble with the Plan B of if it doesn't work, removing a fan and installing a fourth module, is that unless the fourth module was bought as a matched pair with the third you'll probably have lots of dual-channel issues still.

If money is the issue and you're looking to do a massive upgrade within the next year or two, I'd just get a 4 GB stick, put it in, try the mixed mode and if you get instabilities force it into single channel.

digitaldoc · Jun 5, 2015

If this is a short term patch, than you can either stick with what you have, or just add a single stick and see what happens. Just don't be upset when it does not work out as I can vouch for the time Tradesman spends on this recurrent issue.

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 5, 2015

Well I didn't know that exactly same modules with same everything, just not sold as a dual-channel kit can have this issue of being unstable.

That way, even the modules I have right now weren't bought as a kit, I'd bought two of the same modules (I just checked for matching brand, specs and part number) a few years ago from a vendor, but I haven't had any issues with them at all so far.

So, if I buy a kit of 2x4 GB now, can't it have the similar compatibility issues we're talking about with the modules I already have right now? Because even though I'll buy the ones with same part numbers (CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9) and specs, the year of manufacture and everything else could be different?

Tradesman1 · Jun 5, 2015

Yes, it's a crapshoot, a model of DRAM may be in production for years but the actual ICs (memory chips) constantly change as does the solder, PCBs etc. Even with all the same components you can pull sticks right off the assembly line that might or might not play. Manufacturers test all the sticks theat come packaged together and thus guaranteed to play. It's also why quite often say 2 sets of 2 sticks is cheaper than a single 4 stick set, takes more testing to find 4 sticks that play than it is to find 2

RatulUpadhyay · Jun 6, 2015

Haha, well that's messed up. I never felt like buying RAM could be such a hassle

So now that I know that even a dual-channel kit would also might not work, what would be your final say, 2x4 GB or 1x4 GB?

P.S. One thing's for sure, thanks to you guys, I'm definitely getting a quad-channel DDR4 kit whenever I overhaul my whole system.

Tradesman1 · Jun 6, 2015

It's best to buy the full amount of DRAM you want in a single package, that way you know the sticks are all tested and guaranteed to work together.

Should I buy DDR3 or wait for DDR4?

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