Ram upgrade

[Rohan_Jamadagni]

I have 2 sticks of 4gb gskill ripjaws memory,I want to upgrade to 16 gigs,so can I get a single stick of 8gb or do I need to get 2x4gb. I have 4 slots on my mobo.(Ram is ddr3)

[Master Jimbob]

4 minutes ago, Rohan_Jamadagni said:

I have 2 sticks of 4gb gskill ripjaws memory,I want to upgrade to 16 gigs,so can I get a single stick of 8gb or do I need to get 2x4gb. I have 4 slots on my mobo.(Ram is ddr3)

I'm pretty sure it would work with the single 8gb stick.

[Tech Deals]

27 minutes ago, Rohan_Jamadagni said:

I have 2 sticks of 4gb gskill ripjaws memory,I want to upgrade to 16 gigs,so can I get a single stick of 8gb or do I need to get 2x4gb. I have 4 slots on my mobo.(Ram is ddr3)

You can get a single stick of RAM, however there are two things to be aware of:

 

1. You'll end up in single channel mode, this cuts your memory speed in half.

 

2. You need to be really sure you're putting the same type, speed, voltage, and timings of RAM.  I have had never ending troubles over the years adding memory to an existing machine when one stick was 1.35v and the other was 1.5v, or one was CAS11 and the other CAS13, etc.

 

Regarding point #2, for computers that must work, I no longer "add" RAM, I replace it all at once with a kit designed to be installed together.

 

For example:

 

2x of this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231665

 

May not actually be equal to:

1x of this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231668

 

Now, it may work fine.  Or it may not.  The 4x kit was tested and validated as a set.  The 2x kits were validated and tested as pairs.  Put all 4 into a machine and they may work fine.  Or mostly fine, until you use it all, or not at all.

 

Years and years of headache tells me to just replace it all at once.  But that's me.

[509Vince]

It probably could work if your lucky.

 

Still you'll lose dual channel if you go ahead though.