Building a computer with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X for finite element analysis (FEA) raises the question of whether to use 2 or 4 sticks of RAM. Both configurations are limited to two memory channels, indicating no significant performance difference between them. However, using two sticks allows for future upgrades, as most motherboards have four slots. For maximizing memory at 128 GB, options include either 2x64 GB or 4x32 GB configurations, though 64 GB sticks are less common. The intended use of software like Ansys and Comsol for multiple simulations justifies the need for high memory capacity, as these applications can be demanding. The CPU and motherboard support a maximum of 128 GB, suggesting that this amount will suffice for the foreseeable future.
