can I have two different ram capacities in my PC at the same time?

[CarCollector36]

I currently have 8 gb of ddr3 RAM (2x4gb) and i was wondering if I can add an 8 gb stick of RAM, and replace the 4 gb sticks with another 8 gb stick later on

[paddy-stone]

If you mean can you swap one of the 4GB ones with an 8GB stick, and still use the other 4GB stick the answer is yes, they will default to the lowest speed though. Also, if you have spare slots, you can just  add the 8GB stick.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

Yes, you can. You may lose dual-channel functionality until you get the second 8gb stick, though. 

[CarCollector36]

Just now, paddy-stone said:

If you mean can you swap one of the 4GB ones with an 8GB stick, and still use the other 4GB stick the answer is yes, they will default to the lowest speed though. Also, if you have spare slots, you can just  add the 8GB stick.

Thanks for the help

[paddy-stone]

3 minutes ago, CarCollector36 said:

Thanks for the help

No worries, check compatability first... but TBH even if you just have to use the 8GB stick on it's own, at least you can sell the 2*4GB sticks and buy the other 8GB stick. Hope it all goes well, if you get stuck , come back and ask for help again.

[manikyath]

the specifics are always a bit iffy, but if you have 4 ram slots, your chances are extremely high (somewhere between 99 and 100%) that you can just slot in an extra stick and the mobo handles the rest.

 

to have the best chance, or the least issues afterwards, it's usually suggested to buy sticks as close to the ones you have now as you can, but mix&match is pretty much flawless on modern hardware.