Processors

[Abraha240]

Hi, I'm new to this, I'm using a Ryzen 5 5500 and my motherboard is B550M AORUS ELITE AX Rev 1.3, I currently have 2x8 3200MHz RAM (16 GB), and I wanted to upgrade to 32 GB, and I was wondering, if it's Possible to buy another 2x8 to use the 4 ram slots, or buy 2x16 to only use the 2 ram slots, I'm not sure if my computer is capable of using 4x8 3200 MHz.

THANK YOU TO ANYONE WHO TAKES THE TIME TO READ AND RESPOND.

[johnnyenglish]

I would't get another 2x8, normally there is a chance that you won't be able to get 3200mhz stable.

My advice, is it for gaming? If so, the gains not worth it from 16 to 32gb in the vast majority of games. In fact, you may lose some fps if you run 32gb at Jedec speeds compared to 16Gb fast memory and lower latency.

If you are dead set on 32gb, specially for ram intensive work, have a look at the QVL for your board.

Good luck 

[JohWill]

And YES, Less sticks are easier to OverClock vs having 4 sticks.  You'll have more error because you have more chips to match up. But like we all said, matching is Key.  Just remember, You don't notice anything unless your using up all your Ram while gaming or editing.  If your not running out of ram now, You system will run the same regardless if you had 128gb  or 512 gb etc.

[ThreeDee]

IF you get another 2x8 3200 kit .. ideally you'd want to get the same make/model/timings as what you got

You should be able to run 4 sticks at 3200 without issue

I'd update your motherboard's BIOS to latest version available first 

I ran a 5900x on my wife's ASRock B550m Phantom Gaming 4 with 4 x 16GB 3200 CAS16 1.35v sticks without issue. I even ran same configuration at 3600 CAS18 without issue .. but I had to bump up the DDR voltage to 1.392v to do so .. and being that it was my wife's setup, I just ran them at XMP values a few BIOS updates later after initial install

Generally , 3600 is the "sweet spot" for 5000 series Ryzen

I ran 4x16GB 3600 CAS18 sticks on my ASRock x570 Taichi and a different 5900x without issue .. they were Oloy brand and I did have to bump up the DDR voltage from 1.35v to 1.36v for them to be stable though

[JohWill]

Yeah have a few systems at 3600 is that golden speed.  Great info here!  

Also running 3000 or 3600 m/t speeds you really dont notice much gaming.  Maybe 1 percent.  so dont think your losing out going slower..  A Stable system is worth it, rather then bugs every other day.  You wont miss much.. Ryzens run so well stable don't push to much.  Gaming 32 is fine.  16 is min.  64 overkill more for video photo editing.

OH, yes.  Tons of info on slower memory 3200 with faster cl beating 3600 memory with a higher cl.  it sounds wrong but the cl speed makes the chips.  

[misterj]

Abraha240, AMD specifications:

Max Memory Speed
2x1R DDR4-3200
2x2R DDR4-3200
4x1R DDR4-2933
4x2R DDR4-2667

[FunkZ]

The Ryzen 5 5500 is based on the monolithic Cezanne die with its integrated IMC, and as such it is not restricted to DDR4-3600 that other Vermeer chips I/O die would be. It's essentially a lower-clocked 5600G with the IGP disabled, memory speeds in excess of 4000 at 1:1 are easily attainable.

However if on a budget, as @ThreeDee stated when adding to existing memory, try to get another identical kit that matches speed and timings. Running 4x8 @ 3200 should be no problem.

[JohWill]

Save the headaches and match what sticks you have now. CL speeds  size speed.  I run 4x16 crucial micron OC about 200 M/T on the same MBoard.  No issues.  Have two one with a stock 5600 non x  and a 5900x all running 4 sticks and all are over clocked. ddr and cpu. at 200ish on both.