Dual channel 12GB or Single Channel 8GB RAM

thefcdgaming · Jul 25, 2018

I have 2 sticks of DDR4 2400MHz RAM, i got one when i was building my PC but i could only get 4GB, i recently got 8 more gigs and i am running them in dual channel, same clock speed and manufacturer, does the 4GB stick somehow limit my 8GB? Sorry for the dumb question, i was just wondering, thanks in advance.

Calvin7 · Jul 25, 2018

Memory is guaranteed in the form sold and there are no guarantees how other combinations you come up with will work.

QwerkyPengwen · Jul 25, 2018

So to clarify, you are using a 4GB stick with an 8GB stick?

If this is the case, then you are not running dual channel. Plain and simple. You are running two different sticks each in single channel.

To make things worse, they are not the same regardless of the supposed timings and speeds along with the fact that they are two different sizes. This will inevitably cause instability in your system whether it be tomorrow or 3 years from now, who knows when, but at some point your RAM will fail because of it, and it could end up taking out other components along with it.

This doesn't mean you go out and buy another 8GB stick to put together with your current one. even if you buy the same one from the same place, it was not packaged with another stick as a kit and therefore it is not guaranteed to work properly when run with another stick. At which point you take the risk that it won't work properly or will hurt your system.

TJ Hooker · Jul 25, 2018

As @Calvin7 said, RAM purchased separately is not guaranteed to work together. It may fail to boot, or it may have stability issues. It's not going to damage your RAM or the rest of the system though (other than possible data corruption if you failed to address any stability issues).

If you are able to get the two sticks working together, it will run in something called flex channel. Basically, it will perform as if you had 2x4 GB in dual channel, with an extra 4 GB in single channel.

boju · Jul 25, 2018

Agree with TJ

If this is for an Intel system, follow this diagram for flex mode. Have the lowest capacity stick in first dimm. If it works, the first half of the 8GB stick will be in dual channel and the other half single channel.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005657/boards-and-kits.html?wapkw=flex+mode#flex

Not sure if Amd has something similar to flex mode.

@Simply, what do you mean by different size memory can hurt/take out other components?

Search

Dual channel 12GB or Single Channel 8GB RAM

thefcdgaming

Prominent

boju

Calvin7

Titan

QwerkyPengwen

Splendid

TJ Hooker

Titan

boju

Titan

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page