RAM frequency, adding more sticks?

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Sacra

Honorable
Aug 16, 2014
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Hey!

I have a Core i3 2100 - 3.1GHz dual core, and a 4GB RAM stick. I'm not sure about the frequency, because if I remember correctly it was 1300 MHz, but cpu-z shows 664.9 MHz:
http://valid.x86.fr/wvdy80

I'm thinking of getting another 4GB stick, because RAM is almost always 50% + , pretty much 2x usage compared to the CPU.

If this is a case of needing more RAM, should I worry about the frequency?
 
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B
CPUz shows the actual frequency of the DDR3 bus while the RAM sticks are advertised at the data transfer rate, which is double the frequency (DDR=double data rate), so your sticks are operating at about 667 MHz which is about 1333MT/s per data pin.

The frequency shouldn't change based on adding another stick when going from one module to two (sometimes going from two to four does require a drop in frequency, but one to two is fine), but be advised that when upgrading memory, it is usually best to replace all sticks in the computer because mixing memory kits (even with the same specifications) is never guaranteed to work. Memory can be very fickle about that.

If you do want to keep using the old module and only buy one new module, then...
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blazorthon

Glorious
Sep 24, 2010
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CPUz shows the actual frequency of the DDR3 bus while the RAM sticks are advertised at the data transfer rate, which is double the frequency (DDR=double data rate), so your sticks are operating at about 667 MHz which is about 1333MT/s per data pin.

The frequency shouldn't change based on adding another stick when going from one module to two (sometimes going from two to four does require a drop in frequency, but one to two is fine), but be advised that when upgrading memory, it is usually best to replace all sticks in the computer because mixing memory kits (even with the same specifications) is never guaranteed to work. Memory can be very fickle about that.

If you do want to keep using the old module and only buy one new module, then at least make sure the new module has the same voltage (could be either 1.5V or 1.65V, the sticker on your memory module should say which), number of chips (count the chips on your module and buy another module with the same number if you can), and the same latency timings (probably 9-9-9-24).

It would be easier to just buy two new 4GB sticks and replace your current stick because then you know they are matched.
 
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