Ram Questions

[Willie Xia]

So I multi-task heavily, always with 10+ tabs open, playing a game, and listening to music at the same time. However, when I first start my computer, it's fine as memory is running at about 50%. When I start and play a game, it goes up to about 80%. However, as I start to use the computer more in my session, maybe after 5 hours, it could go up to 95%, sometimes 100% and my whole computer just lags. I always fix this problem by holding down my computer's power button to restart the computer, as just shutting it down through windows doesn't work, and the ram usage goes back to normal. I've faced this issue for a while now, so solutions would be great. I currently run 2 x 4gb GSkill DDR3 1600 mHz PC3-12800 rams.

 

One resolution I'm thinking, is actually getting another stick of 4gb with the same specifications, but from another brand. Would it work? Would tri-channel affect the performance significantly? Thanks for helping.

[Shiv78]

2 minutes ago, Willie Xia said:

tri-channel

not a thing. 3 sticks is not tri channel.

It should help though

[Napo5000]

first scan your computer

2nd when your ram is maxing out find out what is using the most ram in task manger

3rd get more ram if you don't come up with anything

[Tyrosen]

5 minutes ago, Willie Xia said:

One resolution I'm thinking, is actually getting another stick of 4gb with the same specifications, but from another brand

I advise against this. You should ALWAYS get the same EVERYTHING on memory, as manufacturers might have different timings for the sticks, as well as som other differences that would actually not make the RAM compatible with different ones

[Willie Xia]

2 minutes ago, Shiv78 said:

not a thing. 3 sticks is not tri channel.

It should help though

Oops, sorry I'm a newbie haha. But it would work right? Would there be performance issues?

1 minute ago, Napo5000 said:

first scan your computer

2nd when your ram is maxing out find out what is using the most ram in task manger

3rd get more ram if you don't come up with anything

When it's at 99% or 100%, it's usually "System and compressed memory". Atm, it's using up 2 gigs....

[Hero7750]

Well first off you would need to get another 2 4gb sticks of the exact same kind of ram, tri-channel isnt really a thing.

[Oshino Shinobu]

10 minutes ago, Shiv78 said:

not a thing. 3 sticks is not tri channel.

It should help though

Tri (triple) channel is a thing. Three, or multiple of three DIMMs can run in triple-channel. 

 

It's not common, though. The only platform I know of that supports it is the Intel i7 900 series and a bunch of Xeons and Pentiums, all on the LGA1366 socket. 

[Shiv78]

1 minute ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

It's not common, though. The only platform I know of that supports it is the Intel i7 900 series and a bunch of Xeons and Pentiums, all on the LGA1366 socket. 

That's what I meant, not really practical or existant lol

[Godlygamer23]

Just now, Oshino Shinobu said:

Tri (triple) channel is a thing. Three, or multiple of three DIMMs can run in triple-channel. 

Triple channel is a thing, but the point is running three DIMMs concurrently does not mean you are running a triple channel configuration.

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Triple channel is a thing, but the point is running three DIMMs concurrently does not mean you are running a triple channel configuration.

I know. Support is basically non-existent on anything recent. Just his post made it sound like triple channel isn't a thing at all. 

[Godlygamer23]

Just now, Oshino Shinobu said:

I know. Support is basically non-existent on anything recent. Just his post made it sound like triple channel isn't a thing at all. 

I can see that with the first statement where he says "not a thing."

[Willie Xia]

4 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

Tri (triple) channel is a thing. Three, or multiple of three DIMMs can run in triple-channel. 

 

It's not common, though. The only platform I know of that supports it is the Intel i7 900 series and a bunch of Xeons and Pentiums, all on the LGA1366 socket. 

 

2 minutes ago, Shiv78 said:

That's what I meant, not really practical or existant lol

 

2 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Triple channel is a thing, but the point is running three DIMMs concurrently does not mean you are running a triple channel configuration.

Sorry guys, I'm a newbie so my vocabulary wasn't up to par. Yes, I meant three DIMMS concurrently, as in having 3 sticks in a 2 channel motherboard. I currently have the  MSI Gaming Z97-G45 and Intel Core i5-4690K, so would it be compatible to run three sticks in the four slots available without compensating for performance.

[Oshino Shinobu]

Just now, Willie Xia said:

 

 

Sorry guys, I'm a newbie so my vocabulary wasn't up to par. Yes, I meant three DIMMS concurrently, as in having 3 sticks in a 2 channel motherboard. I currently have the  MSI Gaming Z97-G45 and Intel Core i5-4690K, so would it be compatible to run three sticks in the four slots available without compensating for performance.

Yes, you can run three sticks at once no problem. They may not run in dual channel, but it generally has no significant real world benefits, outside of a few rare cases. 

[Godlygamer23]

1 minute ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

Yes, you can run three sticks at once no problem. They may not run in dual channel, but it generally has no significant real world benefits, outside of a few rare cases. 

Three sticks do run in dual channel.

[Willie Xia]

2 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

Yes, you can run three sticks at once no problem. They may not run in dual channel, but it generally has no significant real world benefits, outside of a few rare cases. 

 

1 minute ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Three sticks do run in dual channel.

Alright with that question out of the way, is there a solution to my previous question about high ram usage after a few hour session of using my computer?

[Oshino Shinobu]

Just now, Godlygamer23 said:

Three sticks do run in dual channel.

"May not". I've had both situations when going with three sticks. My current system uses three sticks (one died) and runs dual channel. The RAM I had before (a kit of 2x4GB and an additional 4GB, like OP) did not run in dual channel, regardless of DIMM placement. I assume it was the third stick that was messing things up as the two from the same kit ran in dual channel just fine. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

4 minutes ago, Willie Xia said:

 

Alright with that question out of the way, is there a solution to my previous question about high ram usage after a few hour session of using my computer?

Buy anouther 16gb of ram. Its about 60 bucks.

[Oshino Shinobu]

3 minutes ago, Willie Xia said:

 

Alright with that question out of the way, is there a solution to my previous question about high ram usage after a few hour session of using my computer?

If you look in task manager's RAM usage session, is there anything in-particular taking up a large amount of RAM? If there's a certain program doing it, I'd advise removing it completely and then reinstalling, if you need the program. 

 

If there's nothing, it may be an issue with Windows. A clean Windows install may be a solution.