X99 mobo how many ram sticks for quad channel bandwidth?

[Badpritt1970]

Hey all i have a X99 gigabyte gaming 7 mobo. I have 2 sticks of 8 gigabyte (total 16gb) ram installed. Now i want to utilize the full quad channel bandwidth of my X99 mobo, do i have to install 8 ram sticks in total to occupie all the 8 slots on my mobo to have full bandwidth or do i have to install 4 ram sticks in total to achieve full bandthwidth memory speed? do i have to install them left or right or on the same side? also my geil 2x8 evo 2400 sticks from 2014 or not on sale anymore can i install other brand with same timings together with my old Geil sticks?

 

[mnewsham]

Like the name implies, quad channel means 4 RAM sticks.
x99 is DDR4, so you likely can't just throw in some old RAM you have laying around.

Further, any additional RAM will run at the slowest speed of the RAM you have installed. So if you install 3x8GB 4000MHz DDR4 and 1x8GB 2400MHz ALL of your RAM will run at 2400MHz not at 4000MHz.

As for where to install, check your motherboard's installation guide and/or manual. It will have pictures and an explanation as to which RAM slots to use for which particularly situation. DON'T just throw them in there and expect it to work without reading the manual!