# Question about Updating/Increasing Desktop RAM

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-updating-increasing-desktop-ram/985797
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Tags:** computer-hardware
**Created:** [June 19, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-updating-increasing-desktop-ram/985797 "2023-06-19T23:28:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-updating-increasing-desktop-ram/985797/1 "2023-06-19T23:28:08Z")

</div>

I have some questions about improving my desktop PC computer. I bought a Noctua NH-U12A CPU cooler to replace the stock AMD (Wraith?) that it was built with. I haven’t installed it yet because I also want to add some RAM and I figure it will be easier to do them at the same time. The computer is mainly for video production using the Adobe suite. I had it custom built in early March 2020 (right at the start of COVID).

Some basic specs:

CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X  
MoBo: ASUS TUF x570  
GPU: GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER  
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 3600 2x16 GB (32GB)

I want to double that amount of RAM to 64GB . There’re a total of 4 RAM slots. I have read up on this and found (surprise, surprise) different opinions on how to go about this.

It seems to me that I basically have two choices to get to 64 GB: buy two more 16 GB sticks of the exact same RAM I already have or buy two new 32 GB sticks. Some sources say having all 4 slots used is better than only 2 slots used, other sources say the opposite.

The easiest thing for me would be to buy 2 more identical G.Skill 16GB sticks but I might want to “start fresh” with two new 32GB modules if the new RAM sticks would be appreciably “better” (faster). The MoBo has a total 128GB limit.

I have moderately decent understanding of PC specs and parts but I could use some help. It seems the memory timings are one important spec and I can’t totally wrap my head around those. There are so many exceptions to the rules.

I really hope this thread can provide some general help to anybody dealing with computer upgrading. I hate the idea of a thread being all about me and my particular needs. In fact, I sometimes think we should have a computer sub-forum for this stuff.

Reddit has all sorts of threads about this stuff but I never know just how to go about dealing with that board plus I trust the SDMB in general and feel comfortable with the advice offered here.

Thank you in advance for any help you Dopers can offer!

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-updating-increasing-desktop-ram/985797)._