Memory and System Stability

[chanuka3949]

Hi, I recently upgraded my old system with new Motherboard, Processor and Graphics Card.

My old system died after detecting wrong memory capacity(The same memory config i used for more than 1 year). It did not boot after that(It was a bit lagging the last time it booted so checked for dead memory in Computer properties). The configuration was Kingston 8GB 1333MHz (2x2Gb + 1x4GB)

Old system

Intel DH55HC

Core i5 760

My new system specs are

Gigabyte B85M D3H

Core i3 4160

Palit GTX 750 Ti

I'm currently running 4GB(2x2GB) in my system. Thought of using the other stick. Will this lead to another failure in my system ? Can this configuration damage my system or the memory controller ? I plugged it in once and the system detected dual channel config even though i don't 4 sticks.

Should i just use the 4GB instead of the 8GB. Will be playing DOTA 2 most of the time. But my Kaspersky seems to be eating up some memory so wanted to upgrade.

Thank you.

[Leonard]

@chanuka3949

 

It would depend on the MOBO's specifications. Most, if not all, MOBOs can do 1,2,3,4 RAM sticks but the RAM's compatibility is what you really should check. Some RAM and this is in relation to a random MOBO may only be able to run with either single or dual but not always quad channel and this is where the issue comes in. 

 

Single channel is one RAM stick, dual channel is two RAM sticks, for three sickst of RAM, it is just that three RAM sticks which sometimes gives instability unless the RAM is specified to run in three DIMMs or you get lucky and well quad is four RAM sticks.

 

Have you tried to reset the CMOS of the older system? Have you tried booting the older system with only the 2x2GB RAM sticks or just the 4GB stick?

[chanuka3949]

Yes i checked with all those configurations. And when i boot it without any memory the motherboard beeps as there isn't any DIMMs populated. So that lead to the CPU not working right ? And i heard that the Memory controller is in the CPU which i can assume is damaged as the memory is not recognized correctly. So is it safe to use 3 DIMMs. Will it cause and instability in the system ? Should i just use 4 Gigs ?