Upgrade memory Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3

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MystyDust

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Aug 21, 2014
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Hello, I need your advice.

I have this rig:

- Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 Rev 3.0 with latest firmware
- AMD FX-8320
- Sapphire Toxxic 280X
- 750w aerocool 80p
- 2x2.5 hdd in raid0
- 4x2gb corsair xms 1333mhz cl9
- Windows 7 64bits
- Creative Xfi soundcard

What I want to do is to upgrade mems if u think I am going to get better noticeable speeds in my system. I have read this in gigabyte web:

"4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules*To support a DDR3 1866 MHz (and above) memory, you must install an AMD AM3+ CPU first.
Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules
Note: Only one DIMM per channel is supported for DDR3-1866MHz and higher speed as using an AM3+ CPU"

So with that info what should I do?: buy new mems?...4x4gb...2x8gb...2x4gb...4x2gb...and...1600mhz or higher...which CL?

Thanks in advance for ur help!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
I'd go 2x8GB 1866, either the GSkill Snipers or Ripjaws X would be my first choices. The additional bandwidth of the higher data rate will help in most everything (especially multi-tasking), but even in things like gaming you will see better performance depending on the game and with 16GB should be ready to go for a couple of years
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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Your motherboard/CPU combo can support up to 31GB (4x8GB) at speeds up to 1866MHz (as you have an AM3+ socket CPU)

Upgrading to simply 2x4GB (as you have) but at 1866MHz you might even see some improvement, but it all depends on what you use it for.

If you're going to upgrade, I would suggest you bump to 16GB (either 4x4GB or 2x8GB) at the higher speeds.

Again, it entirely depends what you use it for as to whether you'd see any noticeable difference.

You MIGHT also be able to go to 32GB (4x8GB) but that will also depend on your OS. If you're using W7 home premium, 16GB will be your max as per the OS. Windows 8, you shouldn't have any issues and, in theory 128GB could be used.....now if only those mb's/RAM modules existed.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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I'd go 2x8GB 1866, either the GSkill Snipers or Ripjaws X would be my first choices. The additional bandwidth of the higher data rate will help in most everything (especially multi-tasking), but even in things like gaming you will see better performance depending on the game and with 16GB should be ready to go for a couple of years
 
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MystyDust

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Aug 21, 2014
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Thanks for your quick and long replies. I will use it almost for gaming. I know almost no games today requieres more than 8gb of ram but I thought I would speed my system due to my mems are old and the rest of components not so much.

So going to 16gb, would be better to take 4x4 or 2x8gb? I ask this because I am not thinking in an upgrade to 32gb later and as Barty said windows 7 cant handle 32gb?

Other thing is that my motherboard along with the FX-8320 cant handle more than 2 sticks of 1866 ram, is that correct?

Thanks again!
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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If you're not planning to upgrade to 32GB eventually, then go for 4x4GB. I'm not 100% sure WHY it's preferred, but I've heard it enough times to know it is.

That won't be true about only being able to handle 2 sticks of 1866 RAM. If your MB/CPU/OS support the RAM, and your MB has 4 slots, then you'll be fine. I've never heard of a MB encouraging mismatching modules (which is what it'd be doing if it limited you to 2 slots of 1866 and low-speeds in the other 2)
 
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MystyDust

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Aug 21, 2014
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So then I would be able to run 2sticks of 1866 8gb each in dual channel?¿

 
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