2x8GB RAM DDR3 - 4x4GB Sticks

[Erudes]

Hi all fellas!

My name is Matt and I'm new in this forum which I found extremely helpful.

I have an ASUS M4A88TD-M motherboard which supports a maximum 16GB RAM and has 4 RAM slots and it also supports 2000MHz (O.C.)

My question is:

Can I buy 2x8GB RAM sticks, will the motherboard support this?
Or should I go for 4x4GB RAM sticks just to be sure it will work?
Another question I have is: If I buy Fury HyperX memory of 1866MHz, will it automatically O.C. with my system speed to run to according speed?

(Just in case I have an AMD Phenom II x4 965 3.2GHz)

Thank you for your attention!

 

[Dicehunter]

the 2 x 8GB sticks will be better as it will be less strain on the memory controller compared to having all 4 sticks.

In regards to the speed you will need to set it in your bios.

 

[Erudes]

Are you sure I can put 2x8GB sticks? What about the other slots? They will be useless. That is why I'm afraid thay maybe it won't work.

Is it really true regarding performance having just 2 slots occupied?

HyperX Fury are PnP so they should automatically configure to run at the appropriate speed, I think you are not aware of that.

Salutes.

 

[Dicehunter]

Are you sure I can put 2x8GB sticks? What about the other slots? They will be useless. That is why I'm afraid thay maybe it won't work.

Is it really true regarding performance having just 2 slots occupied?

HyperX Fury are PnP so they should automatically configure to run at the appropriate speed, I think you are not aware of that.

Salutes.

All memory is plug and play, I'm quite aware of that, Been building rigs for quite a few years.

What I meant was you will have to go in and set the speed properly as 9/10 memory will default to 1333mhz unless you set it to it's rated speeds.

The unused slots will be fine, they will just be empty.

Here is a good guide by Tom i.e The Guv, Of how to manually setup your ram speeds -

 

[Erudes]

Ok, I agree with what you say. I just don't understand why if you go to Kingston website, it tells you that the memories automatically adjust to the speed your system is running, for example if your system goes 1866Mhz, you don't have to go to the BIOS to set that speed up on the memories, the system will automatically set the memories to that speed. At least, that is what I understood by PnP.

Thanks for that guide by the way, it should be very useful.

Is there really a major difference on performance, let's say in games (FPS) if I go ahead with the two sticks, rather than four sticks?

 

[Dicehunter]

Ok, I agree with what you say. I just don't understand why if you go to Kingston website, it tells you that the memories automatically adjust to the speed your system is running, for example if your system goes 1866Mhz, you don't have to go to the BIOS to set that speed up on the memories, the system will automatically set the memories to that speed. At least, that is what I understood by PnP.

Thanks for that guide by the way, it should be very useful.

Is there really a major difference on performance, let's say in games (FPS) if I go ahead with the two sticks, rather than four sticks?

Well I've never used Kingston so maybe their memory auto sets the XMP profile, Would make sense although I've never heard of that.

In reality though the performance difference between 4x4GB and 2x8GB is zero but as I said it is a little less strain on the IMC.

 

[Erudes]

Thank you for your information Dicehunter!

Oh by the way, as I said before I have an AMD Phenom II x4 955 3.2GHz.
I was wondering maybe you know if my memories would run at 1866MHz or is there any other limitation for this CPU, or maybe it's for the MoBo?

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Do keep in mind that if you get ram over 1333 you may need to change the XMP profile in the bios. At least I have to with Asus and Gigabyte boards.

 

[Dicehunter]

Thank you for your information Dicehunter!

Oh by the way, as I said before I have an AMD Phenom II x4 955 3.2GHz.
I was wondering maybe you know if my memories would run at 1866MHz or is there any other limitation for this CPU, or maybe it's for the MoBo?

I actually had a Phenom II X4 955 and the highest I could get the memory was 1600MHZ

 

[tinytomlogan]

PnP only works with newer Intel stuff, AMD will be fine at 1600 1866 will depend on your CPU you should still manually set it yourself though. When I say depends on your CPU even the same models can be different in reality its called the silicone lottery. We have made enough guides and its so easy to do.

 

[Erudes]

Can I get a link for those guides please?

 

[Dicehunter]

Can I get a link for those guides please?

I already linked it above dude

 

[Erudes]

Oh you guys were talking about the same thanks!

Let me tell you that I installed 4x4GB on my PC, because I don't plan to updgrade to 32GB in a while now haha, I dont think I will need em'.
In any case the speed was automatically set up to 1600MHz as well as the timmings.

Salutes and thanks for all your support!