My desktop PC supports 32 gb of ram. The 4 slots are in this order blue, black, blue, black. The PC was purchased new and had one 8gb in one of the blue slots and one 4gb in the other blue slot. If I want to upgrade my Ram with 8gb modules how should I place them? Should I remove the 4gb from the dual channel and put an 8gb in or should I put two 8gb modules in the black slots as a pair? I appreciate anyone's answers! Thanks!!!
Question regarding Ram upgrade placement of modules;
- Thread starter antg1996
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Solution
CircuitDaemon
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- Feb 23, 2016
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First of all, there's no "dual channel" slot. Dual channel works when 2 equal modules are installed on 2 slots of the same color (or labeled both the same as A/B for instance). If you are upgrading to 32 then just fill them all with 8GB modules, there's no other way to do it with only 4 slots. If you want to use lets say 8 + 4 + 8 then just put both 8GB sticks in the same color slots. People will say "but remove the 4GB stick so the 8GB modules work in dual channel" but that's up to you. Dual/quad channel is just a marketing scheme that barely makes any difference and is only noticeable in servers or really high end computing. You may put them in whatever order you want really. It's better having more ram than having them work in "dual channel" as there's no real benefit from it.
Thanks for your answer, that makes perfect sense. So basically if I am only going to install one 8gb module I should take the 4gb out of the blue slot and put it in a black? Then put the 8gb module where the 4gb was so that there are two 8gbs in the blue slots? Hope that's right! Anyway, nice profile icon! I listen to metal so I can surely appreciate it! Anyways, thanks for your help! Anthony
Tradesman1
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How DRAM runs is dependent ofn the total amount of DRAM in each channel (each channel has 2 slots). So actually (from CPU) you could have an 8GB stick in slot 1 and 2 4GB sticks in slots 3-4 which is 8 total in each channel and all would be in dual Channel. The big thing will be if the new will even play with the old, there are no guarantees. Always best to get a set of the full amount you want/need and then the DRAM is guaranteed to play. 
Tradesman1: I see what your saying about buying all new Ram for my PC rather than adding new Ram to old. However, I have added new modules to old modules in the past during a Ram upgrade and had no problems. From my experience as long as the modules are the same type they work fine. Tell me what you think???
Tradesman1
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As said it's a 50/50 crapshoot. I've had identical model sets straight from the manufacturers that wouldn't play. There are simply no guarantees they will play nice: see items 2 and 6 here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr-dram-myths,4155.html
Tradesman1: So are you saying buy all new memory modules that are the same as a new set and swap out the old modules and replace with the new ones? I am not doubting your expertise I am just making sure I understand you correctly? I read the articles you specified and I do see your point. Being that I am not the best at this type of thing I want to ensure that I do it right the first time. Thanks for your help!!!
Tradesman1
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I suggest buying all the DRAM you want/need in a single package - that way the sticks in a package have beenn tested to play and are guaranteed to do so. Otherwise can be looking at RMA/returns, paying return shipping, restocking fees, etc
Tradesman1: I understand. All I know so far as that my PC takes this Kingston 8gb memory module: KCP316ND8/8. So my question for you is does it matter what brand or is it just important to make sure other brand modules specifications match the KCP316ND8/8? Also, where would I buy these as a set as you stated earlier? Newegg, Tiger Direct, etc? This should be my final inquiry but as you can imagine this stuff gets fairly complicated for a novice! Once again thank you for your help, I appreciate it!!!
Tradesman1
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Yes if 1600/11 (your stick) works then maost any 1600/11 will work, what mobbo and CPU as this is basically entry level and you might benefit from faster DRAM
Tradesman1
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there 1600, 1866, 2133, etc, etc....the higher number (data rate) is faster. Can check your mobo model to get an idea of what data rates it supports, though the CPU (in particular, the MC (memory controller) in the CPU is the true determining factor as to what data rates you can run, which is why I asked what mobo and CPU
Actually I checked crucial.com for compatibility and the highest speed Ram I can run is 1866. My computer is not really high performance as I use it mostly for everyday computing. I've just been having some hang ups with the 12gbs of Ram. Would you suggest upgrading to 2 1866 8gb modules or trying something software related to correct the hang ups? What I mean is going from a 4gb and an 8gb module which are both 1600 to 2 8gb modules that are 1866 really going to notice a difference in speed when switching from one application to the next? That's what I'm looking for.
Tradesman1
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Tradesman1
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Looks like that's it then, appears the mobo is ibn a prebuilt computer, common in HP rigs. They have a locked BIOS so DRAM is limited to listed specs
Tradesman1
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