Is my Ram compatible

luka1000 · Feb 7, 2018

I have the Patriot Viper Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4 2400MHz DRAM I was wondering I wanted to add more do I have to buy 2 more 4gb or can I buy 2 8gb of the same ram my motherboard is a MSI B250 PC MATE LGA 1151 Intel B250 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 ATX Intel Motherboard

jgustin7b · Feb 7, 2018

You have 4 ram slots I believe. Just make sure each set is put in the correct slots. You can refer to the mobo manual for correct placement.

DRagor · Feb 7, 2018

There is no guaranty the kits will work together, whether it is 2x4 or 2x8. You can maximize your chance to get them working by getting kit with exactly same specs as you already have, but even then you don't get 100% chance. Safest approach is to sell your 2x4 Gb and buy 2x8 Gb (assuming you need only 16 Gb), that way you are sure not running into problems.

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

luka1000 :

well, the right was is to buy 2 more 4gb sticks, the wrong way is buy one 8gb stick and run it in a separate channel from the 2 4gb sticks, but no you cant buy 2 8gb sticks

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

luka1000 :

well, the right was is to buy 2 more 4gb sticks, the wrong way is buy one 8gb stick and run it in a separate channel from the 2 4gb sticks, but no you cant buy 2 8gb sticks

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

jacobweaver800 :

Why not? How would adding 1 8gb stick be fine, but adding 2 gb not be doable?

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

King_V :

well, your board supports up to 4 sticks of ram, but typicaly you would just add 2 more 4gb sticks, but if you add 2 8gb sticks you will have 16gbs in one channel and 8 in the other, which doesn't work you need to have the same amount of ram in both channels. So you can add a single 8gb stick to the second channel and leave the 2 4gbs in the fist channel, but just buy 4 8gb sticks or buy 2 more 4gb ones of the same speed.

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

I don't think that's how it works - right now, if the OP has 2 sticks of 4gb, then it's 4 gb in each channel.

Adding a pair of 8 gb sticks (preferably identical manufacturer, identical timings, etc) would mean that there's 12 gb in each channel, wouldn't it?

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

King_V :

Usually theres 2 sticks per channel. 2 rows are colored the same and 2 a different one. To make it easier just go with 2 4gb sticks or sell it and buy 4 8gb sticks instead.

luka1000 · Feb 7, 2018

So ummm what do I do 2x4gb or 1x8gb or 2x8gb

scout_03 · Feb 7, 2018

this is the ram you have then buy a similar se for a total of 16 gig https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220996

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

luka1000 :

you can buy 2 more 4gb sticks or sell the ones you have and buy 2 or 4 8gb sticks. How much ram do you need?

luka1000 · Feb 7, 2018

16 should be enoff no need for more really

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

luka1000 :

Then buy 2 more 4gb sticks of the same speed and you should be fine.

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

I was going to suggest that you could get a pair of 8GB sticks of the exact same type. If you're currently in dual-channel, then just putting those in the empty slots SHOULD ultimately give you 24GB total in dual-channel mode.

BUT - worst case, if it didn't work, then just keep the pair of 8GB sticks for dual channel and sell of the 4GB sticks.

HOWEVER, when I saw the prices of the RAM in question from scout_03's link, I damn near had a coronary! So, uh, I'd say at those prices, it might not be worth the gamble of not being able to use all your RAM together. Though, it's up to you as to whether to try it, and have to deal with the annoyance of selling the 4 GB sticks if the 4s and 8s don't play nicely together.

DRagor · Feb 7, 2018

King_V :

Note however, that it works both ways - OP can expect to sell his used memory for MORE then he bought it

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

DRagor :

But he's going to have to spend more on the 8 gb sticks than he can sell the 4gb sticks for.

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

If he gets approximately half for the 4gb sticks (give or take a little) versus what he pays for the 8gb sticks, I'll call that a win.

If the 8gb and the 4gb sticks play nicely together, that'll be an extra win.

Plus, if going the pair-of-8gb route, in trying to use them with the existing pair of 4gb, hopefully OP reports back, and we definitively learn one way or the other if this combo works.

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

King_V :

I doesn't I've seen videos done by LTT trying this and it didn't work unless both channels had the same amount of ram

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

They will have the same amount . . channel 1 will have an 8 and a 4, and channel 2 will have an 8 and a 4.

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

King_V :

It doesn't work like that, the channels are every other slot.

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

Actually, the more I thought about it, the more unsure I was, so I did a little digging.

It looks like it SHOULD work - and has worked for some people. See this thread:

http://www.overclock.net/forum/18051-memory/1205380-2-different-sets-dual-channel-ram.html

Vagrant Storm's post indicates that this will work.

madmatt30 · Feb 7, 2018

^ king is right , ive run 12gb in each channel & still got dual channel fine.

jacobweaver800 · Feb 7, 2018

King_V :

Ok, It CAN work, but it's not likely to, plus he said he doesn't need more than 16gb's he already has 8 just buy 2 more 4gb sticks

King_V · Feb 7, 2018

I'd agree that it would still be a gamble.

Is my Ram compatible

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