With just a screwdriver, your owner’s manual, and a few minutes of time, you can install memory – no computer skills necessary. Just watch one of our three-minute install videos, and we’ll walk you step-by-step through the process. Don’t pay a computer shop to do something you can do in minutes!

Remember that Threadripper X399 boards tend to have eight memory slots. Breaking from DDR4-3600 recommendations because many builders wish to fully populate these boards with eight dual rank modules (16 total ranks), stability at this setting is still common when using up to eight total ranks with the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. Earlier processors can be fussier, though. DDR4-3200 is compatible across most Threadripper processor models and memory configurations, but AMD recommends only DDR4-2933 for second-gen Ryzen Threadrippers and DDR4-2666 for first-gen Ryzen Threadrippers. ▶ Intel X299 Chipset Motherboards (With LGA2066 Core X-Series CPUs)

One thing to remember is that most systems require a matched pair of modules to run dual-channel mode, or four matching modules to operate in quad-channel mode. While past platforms have occasionally allowed for mixed modes using different modules, those didn’t perform optimally. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to ditch an old pair of modules when a pair of empty slots are available, as we’ve had good experience adding a new matched pair to an old matched pair of the same data rate, but doing so may make XMP mode unworkable. We’ve even added 2x 8GB kits next to 2x 4GB kits without breaking dual-channel mode, creating a 24GB (12GB per-channel) configuration as 8GB-4GB-8GB-4GB, by simply leaving the board at default (non-XMP) settings. You’ll just want to make sure the matched pairs are inserted into the proper paired DIMM slots recommended by the motherboard maker. That leads to our general capacity guidelines. We recommend 16GB of main system memory for most users who want to multitask without incurring the above-mentioned slowdown, and 32GB for heavy multi-taskers or those running memory-hogging programs such as video editors. DDR4-3200 could be a better choice for users who can’t afford DDR4-3600 at CAS 18 or lower latency, though. And given the age of these platforms, even slower (and thus, cheaper) memory could be appropriate. Investing in premium RAM for a venerable PC may not make sense within your budget, especially if you think you might upgrade the whole system before long. When it comes to a PC component as opaque as system memory, the idea of value-for-money often gets put aside when considering the “best” choice for a performance machine. But there’s a big statement that should be made here: Most programs see very little gain from high-performance memory with elite specs, and even the most memory-impacted programs we’ve used have showed less than 6% performance gain in going from ordinary DDR4 to an optimized configuration.

Beyond that is overkill for most folks. Programs that run optimally with 64GB or more are generally designed for experienced or professional users who already know how much they need—or at least, who know that they need all they can get. This is where we start to get into the geeky stuff. Let’s start with the short answer: While a higher data rate usually has a greater impact on measured performance, optimally “timed” memory kits such as DDR4-3200 CAS 14 can often outperform poorly timed kits such as DDR4-3600 CAS 20—despite the optimized kit’s lower data rate. (More about what “CAS” is in a moment.)Memory is a component in your computer that allows for short-term data access. Since your system’s moment-to-moment operations rely on short-term data access – loading applications, browsing the Web or editing a spreadsheet – the speed and amount of memory in your system plays a critical role. Load apps in seconds by increasing the speed of your memory and installing more of it. How does one determine whether a module is dual- or single-rank? Specs may tell you, but you can’t count on that. If not, physical examination is another way. A look under the edge of a module’s heat spreaders would reveal how many ICs are used. Since the ICs on most performance-oriented memory modules have an 8-bit interface, eight of those make up a 64-bit rank. (Some low-end memory uses four 16-bit ICs per rank. These “chips” tend to be rectangular.) If you’re like us, you use your computer to do a lot of things at once. You might be editing a document, while also looking at pictures and browsing the internet. This naturally leads to a performance problem: every app you’re running requires memory and competes for a limited pool of resources. Overcome this by installing high-density modules in each memory slot for seamless multitasking. The memory controllers of most consumer processors support up to four ranks of memory per channel, which is why so many dual-channel boards have four slots and why so many quad-channel boards have eight. If every module used in these boards was dual-rank, the memory controller would be “full.”

The good news is a resurgence of AMD-compatible DDR4-2933 memory modules on the market following Intel’s addition of this speed to its 2020 desktop processor guidelines. Those who think that DDR4-2933 is unacceptably slow should dig a little deeper to find out what other people are running with the same motherboard and processor. Imitation can be far more than the greatest form of flattery—it can save you a heap of time and trouble! ▶ AMD X399 Chipset Motherboards (With First or Second Generation Ryzen Threadripper CPUs)

Compare Kingston FURY memory

DDR3 is the sign of a geriatric PC, and spending to the max on performance-minded RAM for a platform that is fast disappearing in the rearview mirror may be false economy. Most DDR3 motherboards supported at least DDR3-1600, with later examples such as the AMD 990FX and Intel Z97 often exceeding DDR3-2133 and DDR3-2800, respectively. But that long familiarity we have with DDR4 doesn’t make memory upgrades today any less complex. How do you go about buying the best memory configuration for your PC? Whether you are building a PC new or upgrading the one you have, the answers come easily—but only once you know the right questions to ask. It may be an Intel technology, but enthusiast-class AMD motherboards are also designed to support XMP. As motherboards are often programmed to slightly alter certain timings to further stabilize AMD’s different memory controllers, motherboard manufacturers have occasionally applied their own names to this setting, such as Asus and its D.O.C.P.