Memory mixing advice

[YoshiHDify]

Today I found a stick of 2GB DDR3 1333 for $1 LOL!

Couldn't pass the offer so I snatched it immediately.

 

Now my question is since my system as 2 sticks of 4GB DDR3 1600 memory, is it okay to just shove that stick in and make it 10GB?

Also will this cause worse performance of my 1600 RAM even though there may be a possibility that I can overlock via MB to make them all 1600.

But it sorta still breaks the dual channel rule.

 

tldr:

Am I better off with:

2x 4GB 1600 DDR3

OR 

2x 4GB 1600 DDR3 + 1x 2GB 1333 DDR3

 

Because I could just leave it lying around as a spare.

[Frankie]

Rule of thumb is to run the same speed memory, so I would personally not do it.

 

I would leave it as a spare

[i_build_nanosuits]

2X4 GB let go your other stick it will just create instability and problems.

[Method]

2X4 GB let go your other stick it will just create instability and problems.

 

instability is unlikely. Depends on the brand. If your system is stable from using that third 2 gig stick, the only thing that will happen, is your 2 4gig sticks will downclock to 1333. If you're overclocked at all using bclock, that would be the only thing that would cause instability. You might have to reconfigure your overclock. If an extra 2 gigs of ram is worth it to you, do it.

 

You're not going to notice any performance decrease dropping from 1600mhz to 1333. None.

 

Edit: Also, it does not break any dual channel rule. You still have 2 4 gigs sticks in dual channel. An extra stick in a non-dual channel slot isnt going to turn off dual channel mode.

[i_build_nanosuits]

You're not going to notice any performance decrease dropping from 1600mhz to 1333. None.

...in regards to gaming...if you happen to do video editing and rendering, modeling, photo editing and things of that nature then dropping the memory speed to 1333mhz will hit your performance and i would rather have only 8gb in that case.

[Method]

...in regards to gaming...if you happen to do video editing and rendering, modeling, photo editing and things of that nature then dropping the memory speed to 1333mhz will hit your performance and i would rather have only 8gb in that case.

 

I guess? Performance drop even in rendering/modelling isn't going to be that drastic, it certainly won't be night and day and he likely won't even notice it. It really comes down to, how much ram does he typically use day to day. if it's pushing 7/7.5 gigs, he could benefit from the extra ram.

[i_build_nanosuits]

I guess? Performance drop even in rendering/modelling isn't going to be that drastic, it certainly won't be night and day and he likely won't even notice it. It really comes down to, how much ram does he typically use day to day. if it's pushing 7/7.5 gigs, he could benefit from the extra ram.

correct, but for MOST users 8GB is still plenty (i'm a poweruser i render videos and play games on the side and i never cap out my RAM in windows 8)

[Method]

correct, but for MOST users 8GB is still plenty (i'm a poweruser i render videos and play games on the side and i never cap out my RAM in windows 8)

 

Really? Jeez. 8 gigs was getting way too limiting for me. 10 gigs is kind of a sweet spot for my uses for now. 

[i_build_nanosuits]

Really? Jeez. 8 gigs was getting way too limiting for me. 10 gigs is kind of a sweet spot for my uses for now. 

farcy4 and cod AW do eat up 6 to 7 gigs so when i play those i can't do much else...but other than that most games still use 4gb or less (i would want to upgrade to 16gb really, but i can't find a way to justify this purchase just now...will happen someday though)

[duckypath]

correct, but for MOST users 8GB is still plenty (i'm a poweruser i render videos and play games on the side and i never cap out my RAM in windows 8)

 

I am thinking of upgrading to 32GB as 16GB is starting to feel like not enough.lol

[i_build_nanosuits]

I am thinking of upgrading to 32GB as 16GB is starting to feel like not enough.lol

i find that very hard to believe, what do you do with your machine that sucks so much RAM? Autocad? (cause at work i work with autocad map and i do use upward of 16GB when i load many maps and work on several project at once, but in my home/recreation use i never use more than 7gb.)

[duckypath]

I work with large photoshop files (mainly for billboard print), and do 3d simulations in houdini/krakatoa which love RAM.

[YoshiHDify]

My 4GB sticks are Corsair Vengeance, the 2GB stick is crucial. I should run some memory benchmarks just to test lol.