RAM Upgrade Advice Needed

[Sparky8691]

Hello everyone. I'm thinking about upgrading the RAM in my desktop from 16GB to 32GB but just want to make sure I go about it properly.

 

I have an i7-5820k in an Asus X-99A motherboard, so there is quad channel DDR4 RAM support. When my desktop was built (back in 2015...it is getting on a bit now) the 16GB was made up of 4x 4GB Corsair Vengeance 3000MHz.

I'm not sure whether I absolutely have to find another 4 sticks of 4GB of the same type of RAM to maintain the quad channel configuration, and ensure I'm not losing out on speed/stability. Or whether I can just add 2 sticks of 8GB without any issues?

 

I found a seller on eBay that has two lots of a Vengeance 3000MHz 2x 4GB kit for sale so that would maintain the quad channel setup and have all the sticks matching as best as possible. But my local second hand electricals retailer also has 2x 8GB sticks (also Vengeance 3000MHz) at a slightly cheaper price, and with a 2 year warranty. So if there is actually no benefit to keeping all the sticks 4GB each then I would prefer to spend a bit less money.

 

I'm thinking of upgrading to a high end laptop at some point anyway to replace both my ageing desktop and modern but not so powerful convertible laptop. By high end I'm thinking at least an i9-13900H and 32GB RAM. I already have my eye on a 14" Asus model. I'd be saving quite a bit on power bills thanks to the lower consumption of even a high end laptop compared to the 200W my desktop idles at so said laptop would pay for half of itself after 10 years anyway (and it's coming up to that length of time that I've kept my desktop so not unreasonable to think I could keep a new machine that long). So it may not even be worth putting more RAM in my desktop anyway if I'm upgrading to something else. But probably looking at 4-5 months before I pull the trigger on a new machine due to the cost, and my desktop really is grinding to a halt when I try to do a lot of multitasking and video editing. In particular it seems to hate me using multiple virtual desktops in Windows. If it only costs around £35 (~$43 USD) to double the RAM, perhaps it is worth it, and will make the desktop more attractive when I come to sell it to go towards the cost of a new machine.

 

Appreciate the help!

[emosun]

24 minutes ago, Sparky8691 said:

Or whether I can just add 2 sticks of 8GB without any issues?

just buy the same 2 sticks you have now again.

[191x7]

Sell what you have. Buy new 4x8GB or 2x16GB.

[RONOTHAN##]

32 minutes ago, 191x7 said:

Buy new 4x8GB or 2x16GB.

Not 2x16GB, you really want quad channel on X99. Sell what you've got and get 4x8 is a good idea though. 

[Sparky8691]

Thanks for the recommendations, I hadn't thought about selling the 4x 4GB I have and putting that towards 4x 8GB. Problem is, I can't find any sellers with 4x 8GB of the same type of RAM. Loads of listings for 2x 8GB, but if I buy two of these kits from different sellers I still end up without a matched set overall. Buying a brand new 4x 8GB kit is significantly more expensive, like 5x the price. I suppose manufacturers don't care about being price competitive for older and less common types of RAM.

 

I suppose I could look for other brands or models of 4x 8GB DDR4, if I'm fully replacing the existing sticks it doesn't need to be Corsair Vengeance 3000MHz but could be something similar. But TBH I'm leaning towards just buying the 4x 4GB of the same spec sticks from this listing I've seen on eBay. Or just not bother and wait until I get a new machine with 32GB later this year anyway.