Can I add single 8GB RAM stick to an existing 2x 4GB RAM?

black_sin · Jun 20, 2018

Right now my pc have two 4GB single channel RAM from years ago (local brand)
I plan to upgrade it to 16GB since it can filled up quite fast lately

My question is should I just buy 1x 8GB or another 2x 4GB?
Both are from same brand as before
V-GEN 4GB PC 10600 / 1333 Platinum or
V-GEN 8GB PC 10600 / 1333 Platinum

Will it have stability problem or else? I'm trying just to add them if I can rather than buy another new 16GB kit

JoeMomma · Jun 20, 2018

2x 4GB.
Never ever mix RAM.
It probably wont work and once I killed my motherboard by popping mismatched RAM.

Most people won't even recommend to add the same RAM.
I have done that and it worked fine, but that was high quality RAM from Crucial.

boju · Jun 20, 2018

Destroying a motherboard with ram is false and so is mixing so called quality ram for higher success rates. It is the same 50/50 chance mixing any same brand or spec ram regardless.

Better off with 2x 8gb stick kit to be certain for compatibility and 16gb worth of dual channel vs 2x 4gb dual channel and 1x 8gb in single channel flex mode.

ElectrO_90 · Jun 20, 2018

The most important thing about mixing ram is you get the same voltage ram.
Sometimes motherboards cannot do 2 different voltages to the DIMM slots.

As for blowing a motherboard up with ram, that's pretty impressive, and so I wouldn't follow your advice.

black_sin · Jun 20, 2018

JoeMomma :

Well that sucks if it can kill a motherboard
Looking at other reply, adding a different size like 8GB is a no go then. I can scratch that off now

boju :

Even with same product it still have 50/50, bummer
Since dual channel is not that necessity to me, I am hoping to just buy single channel and use extra money for better power supply
So single 8GB option is just not worth trying

ElectrO_90 :

I will keep that in mind and recheck them up
But a same product should have same voltage right?

boju · Jun 20, 2018

Those adding more ram often research whats required for best results as you are doing. Advise is to keep ram specs the same. Voltage as said, frequencies and cas timings. Memory are sold in kits and tested to ensure compatibility. Mixing ram as i said may or may not work, it's the risk you take.

Again, memory won't damage a motherboard under normal circumstances unless altering something you shouldn't or inserted memory while there was power still running through the motherboard.

ElectrO_90 · Jun 20, 2018

I have 3 different memory sticks in my computer and all 3 work flawlessly.
Everyone seems to miss the point - It is the Voltage that is the main problem.
Use CPU-Z and all run at 1.5V (DDR 3).
What happens is when you mix speeds - it will go at the slower one (normally)
But it normally can't give 2 different voltages.
The people who have problems are the people who buy ram without knowing its full specs.

sizzling · Jun 20, 2018

Electro you are wrong, the voltage is not the only important thing. Mixing even the exact same make and model of RAM bought separately is not guaranteed to work and can lead to stability issues. Usually it is ok but there is a risk it won’t work. This is why RAM is sold in matched kits which are tested to work together without issue.

ElectrO_90 · Jun 20, 2018

I think you are wrong, the sell it in matched kits for ease.
Not everyone can keep buying kits, otherwise they wouldn't sell separate sticks.
Why sell a separate stick if you are saying they have to be perfectly matched.

boju · Jun 20, 2018

Also it's common knowledge motherboards wont regulate different voltages. Voltage will be set the same across all dimms automatically.

Memory designed to run at 1.65v will probably run into problems when forced to 1.5v. In the case of 1.35v DDR3L memory, they are dual voltage capable of 1.35v and 1.5v.

boju · Jun 20, 2018

ElectrO_90 :

Because there are people who run single channel configurations. Those who configure for multichannel buy matched kits. You're right there is convenience, that's not the only reason.

ElectrO_90 · Jun 20, 2018

boju :

Which is what I have been saying....

boju · Jun 20, 2018

No one is saying it wont or will work, it's honest advice saying it may work with risk it won't. Plenty have had success, like you, and other's not so much.

sizzling · Jun 20, 2018

Electro it’s well documented that mixing RAM can have issues and I have first hand experience. Buying the same make and model usually works fine but not always. I have 2 sets of 2x4gb DDR3 Corsair Vengence LP 1600mhz C9 of the same exact model number. Putting both sets in the same system you are lucky if you can get into Windows without bluescreening. Separately each 2x4gb works perfectly, together they are unstable.

JoeMomma · Jun 20, 2018

boju :

I guess I imagined that I had to pay a shop to fix my PC and they had to replace a blown motherboard.

I don't appreciate being called a liar.
Your mileage may vary

boju · Jun 20, 2018

There are many possibilities why your board failed. To say the cause was simply ram and not know exactly what happened (not because the pc shop guy said so) is unfair to the op and just adds uncertainty and unnecessary hesitation.

http://forums.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-memory-for-PC-systems/Can-faulty-memory-damage-a-motherboard/td-p/63809

black_sin · Jun 21, 2018

Thank you for all your suggestion and really informative reply
After all consideration, I am gonna try to get another same two 4GB model because it is safer than single 8GB and more cost effective for me.
Hopefully it work just fine, if not well lucky me then

Can I add single 8GB RAM stick to an existing 2x 4GB RAM?

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