RAM upgrade, 2 dual channel

evan1715 · Nov 14, 2013

currently i have 8gb (2x4gb) of corsair RAM.
i'm looking to get more but i was wondering if getting just 4gb 2x2gb would be a good idea.
it costs $40 less than another pair 8gb 2x4gb and i dont actually need full 8gb more, 4gb more will do me fine.

so would 8gb (2x4gb) with 4gb (2x2gb) be a bad idea to have all 4 and still run efficiently?
or is it more stable to run 4x4gb?
or does it matter since they're both in separate dual channels?

i've read that people say having 4 ram sticks slow down the memory controller, is that true? if it is, is it actually noticeably slower?

masmotors · Nov 14, 2013

i think for best result stick to same kind you have now or get higher speed ram

wdmfiber · Nov 14, 2013

That should work fine, but just double check in your motherboard's manual. Typically you can even mix and match. Say you had one 2 gig stick and one 4 gig stick. You would have 6 gigs in total and 4 of it would run DDR3 (provided your manual states that).

But anyway... back to what your doing. Just be sure to get it all at the same speed and timing. 1600 MHz @ 8-8-8-24, for example. Or if not, really... it could all just run at the higher latency of the two slow sticks.

See ppl mix and match ram all the time. Or overclock way out of spec... It's all just binned anyway. And for your last question, ya ideally you would have two 8 gig sticks. But don't worry about it. Your not benchmarking to the nanosecond.
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However there is always the chance you'll get an incompatibility. That is why they sell 4 dimm "matched" sets.
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corrected an error and spelling

Tradesman1 · Nov 14, 2013

It's never a good idea to mix DRAM - even of the same exact model, especially 1600 and higher freqs, different brands, different densities, different voltages, etc...Yes, as mentioned above by wdmfiber, many get lucky or are sklilled enough to get sets to play nice, but all to often....well can look through the forums here, many get sets that don't want to play, and spend hours, days, pay RMA shipping, have to return to a store, pay restocking fees, etc... The best bet is just to get a set in the amount you want and sell off the old or use them in another rig

evan1715 · Nov 15, 2013

it would be the same brand, same voltage, same latency, same mhz.
the only thing different would be the size of the two set of dual channel sticks.

currently have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
could get 8gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196
could get 4gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233195

so based on that, u guys would recommend the 4x4gb over 2x4gb/2x2gb
more money

but ok lol.

wdmfiber · Nov 16, 2013

Well, it still won't be a "matched set".
It has to come all come together(bubble wrapped, one package). You can't buy 2 sets; the binning won't be the same. Different run, lot, production, ect...
Link below is a matched set, so to do it. You can't use the ram you have.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233203

That's why I said, do whatever.

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RAM upgrade, 2 dual channel

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