4GB + 8GB RAM

[NeilFX]

I've been meaning to get an 8GB DDR3 module for a while now. I'm a video editing hobbyist so the more ram I can fork over my money, the better. I thought to myself, 8GB of memory isn't that enough, and 16GB (2x8GB) is too much. So why not 12GB? I can just add an 8GB ram with the same speed my 4GB is running at right? What are the caveats here? I already got a 4GB so I want to reuse it if possible.

 

My motherboard supports up to Dual channel memory.

 @ 1600Mhz.

 

 

 

Thoughts?

[Vash_327]

I had also wondered about this. I have 8gb(2x4gb) also and i want to add a 8gb stick but didnt know how it would perform compared to 2x4gb

[NeilFX]

4 slots =/= quad channel

that mb is dual channel and if you mean 1x 4GB stick + 1x 8 GB stick (or 2x 4 GB sticks) it'll run in single channel mode, if you're only gaming then you shouldn't worry

Thanks for the heads up. I got a little confused about the whole slots and channel thing.

Yes, I meant 1x4GB and 1x8GB stick. I'm doing rendering as was in the original post.

[sebischmitz]

Well honestly with rendering yol'll get the most benefit of having more memory at all, not of the highest speed. It will run in single channel, but for your aplication it won't matter, also you are running single channel right now, so you won't notice any performance diference. If the Ram is the same speed and timing it should just work, otherwise you will have to set things right in the Bios. You shouldn't buy to different Ram however, I would recommend same manufacturere and product line.

 

This might be the correct one for you, but check yourself (CPU-Z) what exact Speed and timings you have.

[NeilFX]

Well honestly with rendering yol'll get the most benefit of having more memory at all, not of the highest speed. It will run in single channel, but for your aplication it won't matter, also you are running single channel right now, so you won't notice any performance diference. If the Ram is the same speed and timing it should just work, otherwise you will have to set things right in the Bios. You shouldn't buy to different Ram however, I would recommend same manufacturere and product line.

 

This might be the correct one for you, but check yourself (CPU-Z) what exact Speed and timings you have.

There might be a problem with the stocks of Crucial ram in my vicinity, am I left with no options because mix-matching ram manufacturer modules wouldn't work?. and upon checking my CPU-Z, it was CL11 (8-9-10-11). 

 

Well, you won't lose performance since you were running memory in single channel mode since the beginning

Good to know.

[sebischmitz]

It probably won't be a problem, but you have the slight chance of ending up with compatibility issues. When you've got the right Speed and Timing it should just work fine.

[NeilFX]

It probably won't be a problem, but you have the slight chance of ending up with compatibility issues. When you've got the right Speed and Timing it should just work fine.

Thanks for clearing that up!