Can I upgrade to 128 GB of RAM?

[Peter Brev]

System Specifications

Component	Specification
CPU	AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (16 cores / 32 threads)
Motherboard	GIGABYTE X870 GAMING WIFI6 (BIOS F4i - 12/19/2024)
Chipset	AMD X870 / B850 (Promontory PROM21L.6)
RAM	32 GB (2×16 GB) Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 CL30
GPU	XFX Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Storage	Samsung 990 PRO 2TB + Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro (Build 26100.375, 24H2) + Debian 12 (dual boot)
Monitor	Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo OLED (5120×1440 @ 240Hz)

Usage Overview

Hi there! I usually don’t post much, but I thought it wise to ask for input from the community.

I recently built this system as a multipurpose workstation and development machine. Here's what I use it for:

• Gaming — Mix of modern and classic games.
  
• Music production in FL Studio with VSTs like Kontakt and Omnisphere.
  
• Software development — C++, Python, TypeScript, MySQL, WebSocket integration, and full-stack web dev.
  
• Source engine level design using Hammer, WallWorm, 3ds Max, plus light map/lightprobe baking and compile pipelines.
  
• Texture and art asset creation using Inkscape and GIMP.
  
• Virtual machines — I run multiple VMs simultaneously for cross-platform testing (various Linux distros).
  
• Light video editing when needed.
  
• Other tasks like file hosting, local testing environments, and tooling development.

Current Limitation

While 32 GB of RAM is fine for light development and gaming, it's quickly exhausted when I launch 2+ VMs. These VMs are tightly configured, and lowering their RAM further leads to instability during compilation (e.g. when building Source SDK 2013).

I've also started receiving bug reports from Linux users that only occur in certain distros, so I need to keep multiple VMs active at once for validation and reproducibility.

Memory Upgrade Question

I’m interested in upgrading to 128 GB of RAM, ideally using 2×64 GB modules. However:

- Most sources (including G.Skill configurators) top out at 2×48 GB (96 GB) for AM5 boards like mine.
- GIGABYTE’s QVL only lists 32 GB modules as tested.
- I’m not comfortable going with 4 DIMMs unless it’s guaranteed to be stable.

I'm willing to compromise to 96 GB or 64 GB if there's no rock-solid 128 GB option using 2 sticks.

Additional Context & FAQs

Q: Why not just use a cloud server?
A: I probably should! Long-term, I plan to build a dedicated homelab server to offload compile-heavy, RAM-hungry tasks and free up my main system for focused work.

Q: How often are you going beyond 32 GB?
A: Pretty much daily. My VMs are auto-started after boot. Since I compartmentalize projects per VM and compile often, my RAM usage rises very fast.

Q: Why not use 4×32 GB or 4×48 GB?
A: I prefer 2-DIMM setups for stability, future upgradeability, and reduced stress on the memory controller.

Closing Thoughts

I’d love to hear from others using high-capacity DDR5 (especially on AM5/X870 boards).
Have you gotten 128 GB stable? Did you go 2×64 GB or 4×32/48 GB? Any caveats I should know?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[spicy little monkey]

Good luck getting 128gb stable.

[Omega]

Take in to consideration that the more RAM you install in to the system the longer it will take to POST, especially if you overclock the memory. For clarification, XMP/EXPO is overclocking.

[_I_]

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X870-GAMING-WIFI6/sp#sp

4 x DDR5 DIMM sockets supporting up to 256 GB (64 GB single DIMM capacity) of system memory

https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/9000-series/amd-ryzen-9-9950x.html

Max. Memory = 192 GB

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/memory/memory-limits-for-windows-releases

Windows 11 Pro = 2 TB

the limiting factor is the cpu at 192g
but the boards max is 64g per dimm

[HIVEmind]

gonna be slow cl30

[HIVEmind]

I got a home server that PC would be good for

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Would not recommend going higher then 2X48 GB if you want stable system with DDR5:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6wzp99/gskill-flare-x5-96-gb-2-x-48-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3036f48gx2-fx5

[The_Abortionator]

Originally posted by HIVEmind:

gonna be slow cl30

Lol, dude CL30 is fine. Cl30 6000 is whats being used on AMD CPUS while destroying Intel running MUCH higher end dimms.

[Illusion of Progress]

You absolutely can upgrade to 128 GB.

Keep in mind that while you will probably need to reduce RAM frequency to get it stable (at least if you go with a four DIMMs), it will still be stable. And since you're doing workloads that sound like they need the extra RAM, that sort of forces your hand because reduced RAM frequency is still better than "not enough RAM". If you had an X3D CPU, this reduction would be less of a concern (at least for most games).

I thought 64 GB consumer DIMMs have started appearing recently, but maybe it's still early for them.

[Baker]

I have 64 with G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 64GB Kit (2x32GB) DDR5-6000 C30. running in EXPO at 6000MHz
Never been a problem.
I'd never need 128 and really dont have an idea about that but I
Imagine it would be much harder to get setup running stable.

As pointed out earlier 2X48 GB might be a better option at least if you want to keep it at higher speeds.

[_I_]

32g dimms 6000 cl30 should be fine
now find 64g dimms close to 6000 cl30

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#b=ddr5&Z=65536001,131072002

[Freqsync]

When attempting this month ago.
6000 at 128 never happens.

Now there are plenty of chances something might change. As of yet not recommended.

[Peter Brev]

A lot of very good input here! Thanks to everyone who replied.

Originally posted by Omega:

Take into consideration that the more RAM you install into the system, the longer it will take to POST, especially if you overclock the memory. For clarification, XMP/EXPO is overclocking.

I understand. I do have EXPO enabled with my current kit, but I never realized that adding more RAM would increase POST time. That’s definitely something I’ll keep in mind moving forward.

Originally posted by _I_:

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X870-GAMING-WIFI6/sp#sp

4 x DDR5 DIMM sockets supporting up to 256 GB (64 GB single DIMM capacity) of system memory

https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/desktops/ryzen/9000-series/amd-ryzen-9-9950x.html

Max. Memory = 192 GB

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/memory/memory-limits-for-windows-releases

Windows 11 Pro = 2 TB

The limiting factor is the CPU at 192 GB,
but the board’s max is 64 GB per DIMM.

Thanks for taking the time to gather and share those references. That’s consistent with what I’ve been seeing as well during my own research.

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

Would not recommend going higher than 2×48 GB if you want a stable system with DDR5:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6wzp99/gskill-flare-x5-96-gb-2-x-48-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3036f48gx2-fx5

Originally posted by Baker:

I have 64 with G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 64GB Kit (2x32GB) DDR5-6000 C30, running in EXPO at 6000MHz.
Never been a problem.
I'd never need 128 and really don’t have an idea about that, but I imagine it would be much harder to get running stable.

As pointed out earlier, 2×48 GB might be a better option — at least if you want to keep it at higher speeds.

That seems to confirm where things stand at the moment: we’re not quite there yet for 128 GB without making some form of compromise, whether it's speed, voltage, or stability.

Originally posted by Illusion of Progress:

You absolutely can upgrade to 128 GB.

Keep in mind that while you will probably need to reduce RAM frequency to get it stable (at least if you go with four DIMMs), it will still be stable. And since you're doing workloads that sound like they need the extra RAM, that sort of forces your hand — because reduced RAM frequency is still better than "not enough RAM". If you had an X3D CPU, this reduction would be less of a concern (at least for most games).

I thought 64 GB consumer DIMMs have started appearing recently, but maybe it's still early for them.

There were two main reasons I chose the 9950X. First, the X3D variant wasn’t available when I built the system, I assembled it in February, just before the X3D version was released. Second, I was already slightly over budget with the components I selected, and stepping up to X3D would’ve pushed it too far.

Down the road, I’d also like to upgrade my NVMe setup to three Samsung 4 TB drives. I’ve never been disappointed with Samsung’s SSD hardware, they’ve been rock solid in every build I’ve worked with.

At any rate, I’m more than happy to keep reading about your experiences with RAM. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m fully open to settling for 64 or 96 GB if it means keeping performance and stability intact.

[skOsH♥]

That mobo supports up to 256gb of ram

Edit: didn't do a good read there...I see that you can, but yes, you do run into the problem of not many options, in terms of a 2 stick setup? I mean I would think it would be rather hard to even find a good 128gb 4 stick array

[andreasaspenberg575]

noone truly knows. AMD does not inform of memory limits on their cpus, unlike intel. you will just have to buy some ram sticks and test.

[_I_]

Originally posted by skOsH♥:

That mobo supports up to 256gb of ram

Edit: didn't do a good read there...I see that you can, but yes, you do run into the problem of not many options, in terms of a 2 stick setup? I mean I would think it would be rather hard to even find a good 128gb 4 stick array

the board does not suppport 128g dimms, only upto 4x 64g dimms, but the cpu is limited to 192g of system ram, if you did put 256g in it, the os would be limited to 192g