Got a memory question

[K2SAINT]

So im running right now 8gb corsair vengeance and im running them in a ASUS m5a97 R2.0 motherboard in the following config

 

Starting from the slot closest to the cpu:

 

Black DIMM slot: empty

Blue DIMM slot: 4gb corsair stick

Black DIMM slot: empty

Blue DIMM slot: 4gb corsair stick

 

The corsair is 9-9-9-24, 1.5v, cas 9 , 1600MHz. So that's how my mobo manual told me to do it and to be honest im a noob when I comes to all the ram stuff so heres my bigger question.

 

I have a 4gb Gskill ripjaws x stick just sitting here and I was thinking about putting it in. Its 9-9-9-24, 1.5v, cas 9, 1600Mhz JUST like the corsair. But would I gain any performance? And what slot would it put the stick in? and one more thing. Whats the worst thing that could happen to my system if failure happens? Im paranoid cuz I just shelled out over 1000 on this rig and im scared lolz. No really.. I am......or should I just not add it?

[mapegl]

8gb is enough AND adding that stick will make you lose dual channel mode.

 

Also using different RAM sticks is usually not the best idea.

[Createinator]

RAM in blue slot will run in dual channel while the black slot on will not. You will not see any loss in speed related to RAM. I will not recommend you to do this but if you still want to do it, be sure that this will not adversely affect your PC in any way.

[K2SAINT]

Ok so im confused now. Its either ill lose duel channel mode or not?

[mapegl]

Most mainboards work like this: Dual-channel only works when using slot 1 and 3, or when using slots 2 and 4, or when using all 4 slots. using 3 slots will result in single channel mode.

[Colonel_Gerdauf]

Since the memory needs to be in a single configuration to work (save for the memory size on non-corresponding slots), it simply makes no sense to have part-dual and part-single memory. It if was so, then the memory performance would become sporadic, as motherboards do not assign any specific module to be used "first". That is part of why it is called RAM; it stands for Random Access Memory.

[K2SAINT]

Ok if I add anymore ram then I need to get the same sticks in another pair so I don't lose duel channel mode. Correct?

[Colonel_Gerdauf]

Exactly. Like i said, the motherboard will have no problems with 2GB+4GB+2GB+4GB or G.SKILL+CORSAIR+G.SKILL+CORSAIR configurations, so long as the speed and CAS latency timings is the exact same across all DIMMs.