Different RAM sizes in single-channel memory

billyhalimzzz · Oct 7, 2017

Hello,

I have a Hewlett-Packard laptop, HP 14-r103TX which it initially has 2GB RAM. My memory is a single-channel memory (I see through CPU-Z). I plan to upgrade the RAM as it still has one memory slot remaining.

If I bought a 4GB RAM and put it with 2GB, will there be any problem, like decreased performance because some said the same-size RAM is better?

Also, CPU-Z detect my RAM type as DDR3 but the HP 14-r103TX specification states DDR3L. Should I concern this problem?

Thank you.

Kasper Jorgensen · Oct 7, 2017

You will not be able to run dual channel, also there is a chance of incompatibility when mixing up ram of different size, model and make.

geofelt · Oct 7, 2017

Go to a ram vendor upgrade selection app like Kingston.
Enter your laptop make/model and you will get a list of supported upgrade options.
You want support for any change.

The 4gb upgrade will give you a more reasonable 6gb to work with.
The first 4gb(2gb in each channel) will operate in dual channel mode, and the odd 2gb will be in single channel mode.
Not a problem from a performance point of view.
Since ram must be matched, it might be wiser to replace the 2gb with a 2 x 4gb matched kit.

Laptop ram is ddr3l which is more compact than ddr3.

billyhalimzzz · Oct 7, 2017

geofelt :

But my CPU-Z states that my memory is a single-channel memory so I think there will be no dual channel mode. Correct me if I am wrong.

geofelt · Oct 7, 2017

If you have only one stick installed, it will operate in single channel mode.
Since you have two slots available, you will get dual channel mode when you populate both channels.

Solandri · Oct 7, 2017

geofelt :

Laptops use SO-DIMMs (small outline dual inline memory modules), which are physically smaller than desktop DIMMs.

The L stands for low voltage. The RAM runs at 1.35 Volts instead of 1.5 Volts. Regular 1.5V DDR3 memory may not work - it depends on if the slot can detect the RAM and change its voltage to 1.5 V. But using 1.5 V RAM will decrease your battery life slightly.

If the original RAM is 1.5V DDR3, it may be better to just sell it on Craigslist and buy 2x4GB (or 1x8GB) DDR3L RAM to replace it. I know motherboards can handle different size memory modules, but I don't recall if they can handle different voltages. Even if you got a 1x4GB DDR3L module, the presence of the 2GB DDR3 module may force the DDR3L module to run at 1.5V (which it can do, it just defeats the purpose of buying DDR3L memory).

Or if you don't mind the battery life hit, you can just stick with DDR3 memory. Since apparently your laptop's motherboard can use 1.5V RAM. Based on the specs for a replacement battery for this laptop, it uses a 14.4V 2200 mAh battery, or 31.68 Watt-hours. A memory module burns about 1 Watt, so the 1.35V memory would use about 0.9 Watts. If your battery lasts 6 hours, that means it uses about 31.68 Wh / 6 hours = 5.28 Watts. Lowering this to 5.18 Watts yields a 6.116 hours, or 7 minutes longer.

Dual channel is a nice freebie if you can get it. But don't kill yourself over it unless you're doing some very specific memory-intensive tasks. In real world use, it makes about a 2% difference in speed with most tasks. You're not gonna notice that. It's only tasks which rapidly access more memory than can fit in the CPU's built-in 3MB or 4MB cache (e.g. data compression, encryption/decryption, certain scientific calculations) which can see a bigger speed increase from dual channel.

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