Adding ram for dual channel?

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NeonShadow

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Jan 3, 2016
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I don't really know much about ram so..
Cpu: i5 4460@3.2Ghz
Mobo: Msi H81m-p33
The mobo support dual channel.. 1600Mhz ddr3..
My CURRENT Ram is Single stick 8gb Crucial ballistix sport XT ddr3(1866Mhz but running @1600Mhz cause of mobo) here's my question.. im planning for 16gb memory. IF i bought the EXACT SAME ram.. will it run on dual channel performance? Or It should be a 2x8gb kits(does that make difference) lmao hope you guys get it :3
 
Solution
geofelt
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
It is safer to get what you need in one kit.

You want documented ram compatibility. If you should ever have a problem, you want supported ram.
Otherwise, you risk a finger pointing battle between the ram and motherboard support sites, claiming "not my problem".
One place to check is your motherboards web site.
Look for the ram QVL list. It lists all of the ram kits that have been tested...
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
It is safer to get what you need in one kit.

You want documented ram compatibility. If you should ever have a problem, you want supported ram.
Otherwise, you risk a finger pointing battle between the ram and motherboard support sites, claiming "not my problem".
One place to check is your motherboards web site.
Look for the ram QVL list. It lists all of the ram kits that have been tested with that particular motherboard.
Sometimes the QVL list is not updated after the motherboard is released.
For more current info, go to a ram vendor's web site and access their ram selection configurator.
Enter your motherboard, and you will get a list of compatible ram kits.
While today's motherboards are more tolerant of different ram, it makes sense to buy ram that is known to work and is supported.
 
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boosted1g

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Jun 12, 2013
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As geofelt said, it is best to buy in kits to begin with for guaranteed compatibility.
Even buying 1 kit of 2 sticks and then latter getting a second set of 2 sticks (even if same model) does not guarantee it will be stable.
It is also best to buy ram on the motherboard's support list, there is plenty of other ram out there that will work then just what is on that list, but when there is a problem you can easily get stuck in limbo between the MoBo and the RAM manufactures pointing the finger at each other instead of giving you a warranty RMA.

Best thing you can do is just buy a 16gb kit of ram.
You can try buying an 8GB stick of the exact same model of ram you currently have, but that in no way means they will be perfectly stable with one another. Very possible they will, but certainly no guarantee.
 
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