Mix different PC ram types?

[iNeedy]

I have an HP Victus 15L, and it only has two 4GB Samsung proprietary memory sticks, and I wanted to upgrade it by replacing one of the sticks with this stick from Amazon below- the sticks both run at 3200 megahertz, and so so the new one, and while the original sticks are DIMMs, the new one is U-DIMM, while they are both DDR4. I was wondering if it were compatible or I need to replace both of my proprietary sticks in order to upgrade.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WLPW8MM/ref=twister_B0BVP655FN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

P.S. I wanted to play Star Citizen. I have a GTX 1660 Super and an i5-12400F running at a clock speed of 2.5. I run some heavyish games and there are no problems (I.E. Red Dead 2 and World of Tanks (ultra graphics on WoT, on red dead i can only get up to a notch or two below max.)

[Blasty Blosty]

Not sure they will run at the same speed at timings, however in most cases it will at least work, just at stock speeds

[Brando212]

while it may work, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

There's a chance the sticks won't run stable together, but if they do, then they will generally run a little slower as they will run at lowest common denominator for timings/speed between the two sticks.

 

I'd say you're better off getting a full new set of RAM, a two stick kit shouldn't be that much more expensive depending on what you go for.

[iNeedy]

15 minutes ago, Brando212 said:

There's a chance the sticks won't run stable together, but if they do, then they will generally run a little slower as they will run at lowest common denominator for timings/speed between the two sticks.

 

I'd say you're better off getting a full new set of RAM, a two stick kit shouldn't be that much more expensive depending on what you go for.

Well, as long as its functional enough to run Star Citizen, it probably can run anything else that I would want to play. I really don't care if its not as powerful as it would be if I had a two stick kit, if its a sizable upgrade from what I have, then I view it as fine.

What are some common issues you would think I might run into if I proceeded with my plan?

[TatamiMatt]

1 minute ago, iNeedy said:

Well, as long as its functional enough to run Star Citizen, it probably can run anything else that I would want to play. I really don't care if its not as powerful as it would be if I had a two stick kit, if its a sizable upgrade from what I have, then I view it as fine.

What are some common issues you would think I might run into if I proceeded with my plan?

Stability issues being the main possibility, just computer not being able to run the ram at all, i.e, constatnt crashing and possibly wont even boot. Its less of an issue with similar types of RAM but idk how Dimm and Udimm sticks would even interact

[iNeedy]

1 minute ago, TatamiMatt said:

Stability issues being the main possibility, just computer not being able to run the ram at all, i.e, constatnt crashing and possibly wont even boot. Its less of an issue with similar types of RAM but idk how Dimm and Udimm sticks would even interact

Would it be a safer bet if I found a 16GB DIMM DDR4 stick?

[TatamiMatt]

Just now, iNeedy said:

Would it be a safer bet if I found a 16GB DIMM DDR4 stick?

Ideally yeah, plus the same speed and latency will also help so if you have 3200cl16 DIMM youll want to match that exactly, and preferably in size too, so another 2x4gb kit, but if you want the extra extra RAM id say thats fine to get a 2x8gb kit, you could get a 16gb Udimm kit though and just replace the RAM you currently have entirely

[iNeedy]

Just now, TatamiMatt said:

Ideally yeah, plus the same speed and latency will also help so if you have 3200cl16 DIMM youll want to match that exactly, and preferably in size too, so another 2x4gb kit, but if you want the extra extra RAM id say thats fine to get a 2x8gb kit, you could get a 16gb Udimm kit though and just replace the RAM you currently have entirely

Ok. Just found this 32 GB stick for a price that is a little less than double of one 16 GB stick, and as a plus it is a Samsung stick, which is my proprietary memory brand, runs at 2133 megahertz, would this be a bad choice?

https://www.newegg.com/p/0RN-001H-01G30?Item=9SIA7S6JVR5057

[TatamiMatt]

6 minutes ago, iNeedy said:

Ok. Just found this 32 GB stick for a price that is a little less than double of one 16 GB stick, and as a plus it is a Samsung stick, which is my proprietary memory brand, runs at 2133 megahertz, would this be a bad choice?

https://www.newegg.com/p/0RN-001H-01G30?Item=9SIA7S6JVR5057

A bit slow but not too bad, are you buying single sticks? Ideally a 2x16gb kit is going to give you more performance than 1x32gb stick and should be cheaper, you could go for 2x16gb at 3200 or 3600MHz?

 

Also, quick query, your 12400f is running at 2.5GHz?

[iNeedy]

5 minutes ago, TatamiMatt said:

A bit slow but not too bad, are you buying single sticks? Ideally a 2x16gb kit is going to give you more performance than 1x32gb stick and should be cheaper, you could go for 2x16gb at 3200 or 3600MHz?

 

Also, quick query, your 12400f is running at 2.5GHz?

I initially thought of having a single 32 GB stick installed, and then I could install without replacing a stick needlessly, but I could look for two 16 gig sticks

I believe my 12400F is running at 2.5GHZ, yes, it is 12th gen, its a pretty meaty CPU for the price. No issues.

[Needfuldoer]

"DIMM" and "UDIMM" are more than likely referring to the exact same type of memory: unbuffered memory. ("DIMM" just means "dual inline memory module", the package RAM has come in since the PC66 days.)

 

If you mix different speeds, your memory will run at the speed of the slowest component. (If you have 3600 and add 3200, it will all run at 3200.)

[iNeedy]

10 minutes ago, TatamiMatt said:

A bit slow but not too bad, are you buying single sticks? Ideally a 2x16gb kit is going to give you more performance than 1x32gb stick and should be cheaper, you could go for 2x16gb at 3200 or 3600MHz?

 

 

 

Found this, I really could care less about colors or lights, because my case is not windowed. Seems like a good price for two 16 gig sticks, some 2 8 gig stick bundles are this price. 

https://www.amazon.com/PC4-25600-3200MHZ-288-pin-Upgrade-Desktop/dp/B0B7H65BNR/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QTlI2GlswCB8LlpKn6vNDEvCu1CzaGd9YPJxmKW3rraNHzo2EEfiV6OcSxA940FJ0i7ob4sPK3HoWNd5aZkwLU932b_k7qtEa5dkUzRf7hUHG5ncshds_P6ftDhQrtsmsx12KPEdRdh5tBAzQKVoRS6ScUBbwGoI_Z2nNl-Kt4eA-WjhKSTYR7aAjsFnbCRNRvcSovr5fzAqcUy1CAbQu_U37CvjrTWclnkDsYFMPnsqyp688oYFvGD02ODyt0kq81APzwUKo9w7i9p4Lj-cZxDvu6aPgD6nuc2Yw8zke8Y.XjAb2YNnBLgiB67rO-2TYd0wGUjUe0xg-tiDUCc6LcE&dib_tag=se&keywords=3200+mhz+ddr4+16gb+stick&qid=1710253432&s=pc&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[TatamiMatt]

2 minutes ago, iNeedy said:

I initially thought of having a single 32 GB stick installed, and then I could install without replacing a stick needlessly, but I could look for two 16 gig sticks

I believe my 12400F is running at 2.5GHZ, yes, it is 12th gen, its a pretty meaty CPU for the price. No issues.

the 12400F can boost up to 4.4GHz, have you turned off boosting or something? This will massively hamper performance

[TatamiMatt]

2 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

"DIMM" and "UDIMM" are more than likely referring to the exact same type of memory: unbuffered memory. ("DIMM" just means "dual inline memory module", the package RAM has come in since the PC66 days.)

 

If you mix different speeds, your memory will run at the speed of the slowest component. (If you have 3600 and add 3200, it will all run at 3200.)

Ah i assumed DIMM was buffered as it doesnt specify otherwise, but its just an omission on the part of the mnufacturer?

[TatamiMatt]

10 minutes ago, iNeedy said:

Found this, I really could care less about colors or lights, because my case is not windowed. Seems like a good price for two 16 gig sticks, some 2 8 gig stick bundles are this price. 

https://www.amazon.com/PC4-25600-3200MHZ-288-pin-Upgrade-Desktop/dp/B0B7H65BNR/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QTlI2GlswCB8LlpKn6vNDEvCu1CzaGd9YPJxmKW3rraNHzo2EEfiV6OcSxA940FJ0i7ob4sPK3HoWNd5aZkwLU932b_k7qtEa5dkUzRf7hUHG5ncshds_P6ftDhQrtsmsx12KPEdRdh5tBAzQKVoRS6ScUBbwGoI_Z2nNl-Kt4eA-WjhKSTYR7aAjsFnbCRNRvcSovr5fzAqcUy1CAbQu_U37CvjrTWclnkDsYFMPnsqyp688oYFvGD02ODyt0kq81APzwUKo9w7i9p4Lj-cZxDvu6aPgD6nuc2Yw8zke8Y.XjAb2YNnBLgiB67rO-2TYd0wGUjUe0xg-tiDUCc6LcE&dib_tag=se&keywords=3200+mhz+ddr4+16gb+stick&qid=1710253432&s=pc&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

3200CL21 is quite slow, ideally itd be closer to 3200CL16 but upon looking its not bad for the price

 

Is this available to you?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B092ZCVHS8?psc=1&th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

 

Or this

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09GX8KPH8?th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

[iNeedy]

15 minutes ago, TatamiMatt said:

the 12400F can boost up to 4.4GHz, have you turned off boosting or something? This will massively hamper performance

havent tried it, i didnt want to fry my new PC after only a couple months of use. can you walk me through that sometime?

 

[iNeedy]

13 minutes ago, TatamiMatt said:

3200CL21 is quite slow, ideally itd be closer to 3200CL16 but upon looking its not bad for the price

 

Is this available to you?

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B092ZCVHS8?psc=1&th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

 

Or this

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09GX8KPH8?th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

The first link says "currently unavailable" and the second one is in Euros and says "This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. Please choose a different delivery location. " I live on the east coast of the US, i think these are  UK products.

 

But the 2 16 GB stick kit I showed you that was CL21 will still work decent, right?

 

[TatamiMatt]

1 minute ago, iNeedy said:

havent tried it, i didnt want to fry my new PC after only a couple months of use. can you walk me through that sometime?

 

Can do, but theyre designed to run even beyond that, its physically impossible to fry your PC with that so youre quite safe.

 

Youve got probably half of the advertised performance out of your cpu

[TatamiMatt]

7 minutes ago, iNeedy said:

The first link says "currently unavailable" and the second one is in Euros and says "This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. Please choose a different delivery location. " I live on the east coast of the US, i think these are  UK products.

 

Oh they are, pcpartpicker didnt update to US, 2 seconds

 

Edit: Fixed

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092ZCVHS8?th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GX8KPH8?th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

[venomtail]

1 hour ago, Brando212 said:

while it may work, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

There's a chance the sticks won't run stable together, but if they do, then they will generally run a little slower as they will run at lowest common denominator for timings/speed between the two sticks.

 

I'd say you're better off getting a full new set of RAM, a two stick kit shouldn't be that much more expensive depending on what you go for.

In my experience unlikely that PC won't work at all, they'll just run at lowest common denominator speeds. 

 

2 hours ago, iNeedy said:

I wanted to play Star Citizen. I have a GTX 1660 Super and an i5-12400F running at a clock speed of 2.5. I run some heavyish games and there are no problems (I.E. Red Dead 2 and World of Tanks (ultra graphics on WoT, on red dead i can only get up to a notch or two below max.)

I'm sorry but those a completely different tiers of performance. One is a game made for a console released in 2014 to run and another is a game made for mass market audiences that have been playing it since their 2010 days (sure there was an update in 2018 but they still can't leave too many players behind). Star Citizen hasn't even been released yet and it made my 5800X3D weak in the knees (at least the cities did, barely had more than 15fps).

 

Best try out Star Citizens free weeks to see if you're even able to run the game in the first place. 

[venomtail]

53 minutes ago, iNeedy said:

But the 2 16 GB stick kit I showed you that was CL21 will still work decent, right?

Yes

[TatamiMatt]

4 minutes ago, venomtail said:

In my experience unlikely that PC won't work at all, they'll just run at lowest common denominator speeds. 

Yeah i thought it was an ECC kit paired with non-ECC RAM, didnt know how theyd work together but apparently its not ECC to begin with, but a better kit on its own will be better than mixing sticks regardless, for the same price

[iNeedy]

4 hours ago, TatamiMatt said:

Oh they are, pcpartpicker didnt update to US, 2 seconds

 

Edit: Fixed

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092ZCVHS8?th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GX8KPH8?th=1&linkCode=gs2&tag=pcp0f-21

both of these are perfectly in my price range, I think they will work fine, whichever one i get.

[iNeedy]

3 hours ago, venomtail said:

In my experience unlikely that PC won't work at all, they'll just run at lowest common denominator speeds. 

 

I'm sorry but those a completely different tiers of performance. One is a game made for a console released in 2014 to run and another is a game made for mass market audiences that have been playing it since their 2010 days (sure there was an update in 2018 but they still can't leave too many players behind). Star Citizen hasn't even been released yet and it made my 5800X3D weak in the knees (at least the cities did, barely had more than 15fps).

 

Best try out Star Citizens free weeks to see if you're even able to run the game in the first place. 

Are you using even a mid level gpu? the cpu should never receive the highest workload in any game, my processor would surely do fine. It is mostly on the GPU and memory, which I believe I have covered, and if you believe I dont, please point that out to me.  i'll message you back if i remember to tell you if it works.

Plus, theres a thing called steamunlocked.net and fitgirl repacks.

 

Edit: plus theres this https://support.robertsspaceindustries.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042417374-Star-Citizen-Minimum-System-Requirements

 

[iNeedy]

6 hours ago, venomtail said:

Star Citizen hasn't even been released yet and it made my 5800X3D weak in the knees (at least the cities did, barely had more than 15fps).

 

 

My CPU is 8% better on single-core stuff, but suffers a 30% overall performance lacking in comparison to yours, but the boosted clock speeds are basically the same.

My GPU is right in between Star Citizen minimum and the recommended, and my benchmark tool says that my CPU would do just fine. And it also says 32 gb is perfect. I'll be the first to point out if I am wrong.