Combining RAM sticks

[renchy_is_sketchy]

So i made a pretty bad mistake of buying 2x4gb 2666mhz sticks which will last me for a couple of months i think considering the titles im waiting on but thats about it.

I wanted to find out if i could replace these 2 sticks with 1x16gb stick and then later on when i have the money add in the exact same 1x16gb stick? If not then im just going to get 2x8gb.

Btw im keeping only 2 ram slots occupied because idk how much clearance the cooler needs , right now the wraith stealth couldnt be installed because the fan plastic would be touching the ram itselft if it was in slot 1 (4?) which wouldnt allow the cooler to be screwed on.

Sorry if the explanation is a little wacky.

Thanks!

[Kilrah]

Yes no problem, performance is going to be a bit lower while you only have one stick, but it's not likely going to be significant.

[Whiro]

1 hour ago, renchy_is_sketchy said:

So i made a pretty bad mistake of buying 2x4gb 2666mhz sticks which will last me for a couple of months i think considering the titles im waiting on but thats about it.

I wanted to find out if i could replace these 2 sticks with 1x16gb stick and then later on when i have the money add in the exact same 1x16gb stick? If not then im just going to get 2x8gb.

Btw im keeping only 2 ram slots occupied because idk how much clearance the cooler needs , right now the wraith stealth couldnt be installed because the fan plastic would be touching the ram itselft if it was in slot 1 (4?) which wouldnt allow the cooler to be screwed on.

Sorry if the explanation is a little wacky.

Thanks!

So which cpu you using?? Sounds like Ryzen cpu (cos of wraith cooler), if that’s the case remember that Ryzen benefits a lot from higher speed ram and also double channel, one ram stick may affect your performance significantly. Best if you try to buy 2x8 instead of 1x16. I know you planning to buy more ram in future but still 16gb ram is enough for normal usage (gaming etc), can’t see point in using 32gb 

[renchy_is_sketchy]

1 hour ago, Kilrah said:

Yes no problem, performance is going to be a bit lower while you only have one stick, but it's not likely going to be significant.

Okay so while i have the 1x16gb stick performance will be worse but when i get the other stick it will act like dual channel again right?

Thanks

[renchy_is_sketchy]

39 minutes ago, Whiro said:

So which cpu you using?? Sounds like Ryzen cpu (cos of wraith cooler), if that’s the case remember that Ryzen benefits a lot from higher speed ram and also double channel, one ram stick may affect your performance significantly. Best if you try to buy 2x8 instead of 1x16. I know you planning to buy more ram in future but still 16gb ram is enough for normal usage (gaming etc), can’t see point in using 32gb 

Yeah you might be right 32gb seems a bit too much , ill probably settle on faster 2x8gb ram. And yes , cpu is ryzen 5 3600

Thanks