How much memory is optimal?

[AFdude06]

I've just looked it up, it is quad channel memory.

Cheerio John

If you have quad channel it will work perfectly fine to add more sticks (I assume you have two?), provided you try to avoid mixing capacity and timings. RAM sticks have varying timings, which are a string of numbers indicating how fast they can perform tasks; i.e. 16-18-18-36. If you mix timings it will default to the slowest speed for all the sticks, and may even cause system instability. Mixing capacities isn't as concerning but can cause the same issues. However, it is possible, so it might just take some experimenting.

 

[johnwhelan]

If you have quad channel it will work perfectly fine to add more sticks (I assume you have two?), provided you try to avoid mixing capacity and timings. RAM sticks have varying timings, which are a string of numbers indicating how fast they can perform tasks; i.e. 16-18-18-36. If you mix timings it will default to the slowest speed for all the sticks, and may even cause system instability. Mixing capacities isn't as concerning but can cause the same issues. However, it is possible, so it might just take some experimenting.

One machine has four 8 gig memory sticks, the other has four 32 gig memory sticks, the sticks are identical other than the size of the sticks. I'm simply going to switch them from one machine to the other. The "new" machine has a slower processor but the magic 128 gigs of memory. I'm wondering what to do with the slower CPU, it's good enough for a NAS / torrent machine but it's finding room for it rather than the smaller box I use at the moment. It was only when I started digging with crucial scan I realised what I actually had, not having taken the covers off.

Cheerio John

 

[lewisner]

Having gone from 16 to 64 GB and from a GTX 1070 TI to an RTX 4060 when I upgraded my Trainz computer, I can say that the existing routes all load much faster and seem to run much smoother. Don't have any numbers to back that up but that is how it feels.

Without a doubt. I've upgraded to 64GB of DDR5 and Trainz routes open instantly. Since I have 2 spare slots I may go crazy and upgrade to 128 just for the hell of it.
To put it in context the El Capitan supercomputer has 5.5 million RAM.

 

[nugget2225]

I have used everything from 16gb to 96gb of ram. I ended up settling on 48GB of high speed ddr5 8000 MHZ/MT'S. Anything over 64gb is overkill at the moment. On really large routes, I can get the ram up to 30gb or so. At least don't waste your money on anything over 64gb.

 

[paulper]

Without a doubt. I've upgraded to 64GB of DDR5 and Trainz routes open instantly. Since I have 2 spare slots I may go crazy and upgrade to 128 just for the hell of it.
To put it in context the El Capitan supercomputer has 5.5 million RAM.

So we're clear on the comparison what did you have before? Any other upgrades?

 

[lewisner]

So we're clear on the comparison what did you have before? Any other upgrades?

I've upgraded my CPU, Motherboard and RAM. Previously my CPU was i7 11400k , motherboard was MSI MAG Z590 Tomahawk WIFI and RAM was 32GB 4 x 8 DDR4. OS was W11 home.
Specs now are in my signature, OS is Windows 11 Pro.

 

[paulper]

I've upgraded my CPU, Motherboard and RAM. Previously my CPU was i7 11400k , motherboard was MSI MAG Z590 Tomahawk WIFI and RAM was 32GB 4 x 8 DDR4. OS was W11 home.
Specs now are in my signature, OS is Windows 11 Pro.

Thank you. Seems to me that the other elements of your upgrade probably played a bigger part in improved performance. I would recommend not getting too excited about anything over 32GB of memory. I did some experimenting earlier in the year and 64GB made no difference over 32GB (DDR5).

 

[johnwhelan]

Thank you. Seems to me that the other elements of your upgrade probably played a bigger part in improved performance. I would recommend not getting too excited about anything over 32GB of memory. I did some experimenting earlier in the year and 64GB made no difference over 32GB (DDR5).

It can make a difference on large routes and if you're using quad channel memory 64 gigs might not be an option due to memory module availability but 128 is so 128 works sometimes.

Cheerio John