Add a 1x8 to a 2x4 Ram

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skreamlex

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Sep 17, 2014
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Can I add a 1x8 1600mhz on the current 2x4 1600mhz ram setup, for a total of 16gb while only using 3 dimm slots and leaving the 4th slot empty (for now)

Will there be any noticable difference on performance to a tradional 4x4 setup?

Will all 16GB register?

CPU: i7 4770k
Motherboard: MSI Z87-GD65
Ram: Gskill 2x4 1600mhz 8GB Ram
GPU: GTX 980
Windows 8.1 64bit
 
Solution
Tradesman1
To clear all of the above up, first, there are no guarantees that the 'adding' of any DRAM will play with the old, even if you were to get an identical set of the same exact model of DRAM - it a crapshoot, they might play, they might not.

Also, if they do play i.e. the 2x4GB you have and the 1 8GB you propose to get, NO they won't all run in single channel - Intel utilizes what it calls Flex mode, so if properly placed all the DRAM will in fact run in dual channel. To do this you want the 2 4GB sticks in the same channel, say channel A (normally slots 1-3 and the 8 GB stick in channel B - that way you have 8GB in each channel and it will operate in dual channel. Flex mode is covered in my article here...
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Outlander_04

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Nov 18, 2008
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Both of the previous answers are incorrect .
So long as the RAM is compatible [ frequency and timings the same ] it will run , but with 3 slots filled it will be in single channel .
The pipeline from CPU to RAM will be half as wide and system performance takes a hit

Check in task manager to see if you even need more RAM . Most people dont
 
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skreamlex

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Will the performance hit be noticable in the real wolrd or only on synthetic benchmarks ?
 
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Outlander_04

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6 - 10%
depending on the task .
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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To clear all of the above up, first, there are no guarantees that the 'adding' of any DRAM will play with the old, even if you were to get an identical set of the same exact model of DRAM - it a crapshoot, they might play, they might not.

Also, if they do play i.e. the 2x4GB you have and the 1 8GB you propose to get, NO they won't all run in single channel - Intel utilizes what it calls Flex mode, so if properly placed all the DRAM will in fact run in dual channel. To do this you want the 2 4GB sticks in the same channel, say channel A (normally slots 1-3 and the 8 GB stick in channel B - that way you have 8GB in each channel and it will operate in dual channel. Flex mode is covered in my article here:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/ddr3-dram-faq,review-33220.html
 
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Outlander_04

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Nov 18, 2008
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I learned something new . Its a good day .
Thank you
 
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