Dual channel memory, can I mistmatch different pairs?

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clubbuilder

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Hi I just bout a new computer: HP Pavilion Desktop 500-017c and was thining of upgrading from 8 GB Ram to 20 GB RAM. My reasoning, I am a web designer and at any given time can have several large programs open simultaneously.

I have a few questions:

1. I have dual channel DDR3 memory and 4 memory slots. Curently the computer has 8 GB (4 X 2GB in each slot). Can I mistmatch pairs? (2 X 8GB one pair and 2 X 2GB other pair).

2. Is this upgrade is memory going to make a significant differnce in loading large programs like Adobe all at once or am I wasting my money?

3. Would it be better to go with just 8GB X 2 and remove the other pair (2 X 2GB)?

I cannot afford to upgrade all 4 memory slots to 8GB each (32GB RAM) nor do I think anyone needs this much memory. Before I go out and spend $150 to buy a set of 8GB memory sticks I need to make sure it's going to help me, and I am pairing right. Am I wasting money here or would it actually help?
 
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I am a web designer and it's common for me to open Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, PDF, Video Editing Software, File Compare Utility and a few other smaller program files all at the same time. All while uploading and downloading files in via Filezilla. I use multiple tabs and windows very effectively at this point. This is everyday occurance for me.

On my other computer I only have a 32bit Vista with 3GB Ram and a Quad Core and it handles the task, It initially loads the programs slowly and I have to be more patient when switching from program to program or at least until they are all open and...
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dj1997

dj1997

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you can mismatch pairs yes but then all 4 modules will run in single channel mode but at the end of the day if you have more install it as the loss of dual channel mode doesn't really matter as the minor performance hit will recover with the extra ram
 
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millwright

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In my opinion, go for the more RAM.

One thing that will happen, and one thing that might happen, both not a reason to not go for more RAM.

1 It will revert to the speed of the slowest RAM

2 If the match isn't close enough, you might loose dual channel


The loss of Dual channel, is a very small hit.
Seems to me it is less than 10%
The reverting to slower speed will be small, depending on the numbers.


That said, if you are using that extra RAM, it will be faster than the less RAM with dual channel, and the faster RAM speed.

When you don't have enough RAM, your computer uses the hard drive for RAM, and that brings things to crawl

 
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clubbuilder

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Cool thank you. If I do buy the 16GB (pair of 8GB sticks) should I just remove the other 2 RAM sticks (2GB each) and go single channel? Or leave them in as the slower other pair and have dual channel?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Never a good idea to mix sets, even of the same exact model it can be problematic...best bet would be to buy a set of the full amount you want and get them going - then can always try and mix with the old or just sell off the old or put them in another rig
 
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clubbuilder

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I am a web designer and it's common for me to open Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, PDF, Video Editing Software, File Compare Utility and a few other smaller program files all at the same time. All while uploading and downloading files in via Filezilla. I use multiple tabs and windows very effectively at this point. This is everyday occurance for me.

On my other computer I only have a 32bit Vista with 3GB Ram and a Quad Core and it handles the task, It initially loads the programs slowly and I have to be more patient when switching from program to program or at least until they are all open and running.

So my new computer has 4 slots (2 blue and 2 black) for memory. Each slot currently has 2 GB for a total of 8 BG. I now understand if I am only using 2 memory sticks to put them both in blue to make it dual channel. I want to buy a pair of 8GB sticks (16GB for this computer) but it cost around $150.00. My point is I cannot buy 2 sets of these to replace all 4 slots with the 8GB sticks for a total of 32GB at $300, it's more than I want to invest at this point and I don't feel I need that much for the price.

So when I buy the 2 X 8GB sticks and put them in the 2 blue memory slots, should I just remove the other 2GB black slot memory sticks? This is what is confusing me. I seems like you are all saying yes, just sell the other 2 GB sticks and go with the 2 large (8Gb each) memory sticks. But if adding these other 2 GB sticks will speed up my processing and I would want to use them. But only if they help with speed.

 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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I'd remove them initially and get the new ones stable, then can try adding them back, if they won't play nice, (BSODS, won't boot etc) let me know and we'll see if we can make adjustments so they do, if they simply won't play, then sell them off, the additional will speed thing up, if we can get them all to play together
 
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millwright

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I agree ^^^.
The Computer I'm on now has 2 mismatched pairs, and is running dual.
It is DDR so I have Ton of it.

Of the 4 extra pairs I have, only 1 pair would run dual with the pair that was already in there.
The others would all run, but in single channel.

If you are doing what you say, you are one of those people that the amount of RAM is more important than speed.

As I said before, when you don't have enough RAM for the task at hand, you use the dead slow hard drive for RAM.
 
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clubbuilder

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So the other set of slower sticks may or may not present a problem. I think I will heed your suggestion and start with the matching pair (16GB) in the blue slots and start the computer up and see if it runs normally. If so, add the other 2 sticks and see if it boots up and runs normally. Not a cut and dry answer, I have to see what happens with my sytem. Anyway, thank you again I appreciate your feedback.
 
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clubbuilder

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I need to clarify something. When I opened my case I only had 1 8GB memory stick, so my computer was not running multple sticks. Obviously with only 1 stick its a single channel.

Now for the results:

I opted for a PNY matched pair. The matched pair memory gives the computer blazing speed! I mean it shuts down in restarts in what seemed like a second or at the most a few very quick seconds, is awesome. New programs seem to open immediately.

For those who are wondering if a matching dual channel 2 X 8 GB sticks (16GB total) makes a difference in speed over 1 X 8MB stick (8GB Total), the answer is yes, a significant difference. Now I can sell my other single 8MB stick to replace some of the money I spent. Will enjoy the benefit of this speed for years. Worth every penny!
 
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millwright

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Good deal, although I suspect it is faster memory.
More memory speeds thing up a lot also, if you are using it

Test have been pretty consistent over the last 10 or 12 years since dual channel came out, showing only a 5 to 10% increase over single channel
 
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