Upgrading RAM

[Mike87]

Hi all,

 

I want to upgrade my RAM from 2x 4GB (DDR3) to 16GB RAM. I have 4 RAM Slots. Is it ok to buy 1 8GB RAM or should I also stay with 2x4GB? Are there any Pro's or Con's? 

MY MB is MSI H87-G41. 2 Slots are Blue and 2 are black

Thanks!

[Lord Nicoll]

6 minutes ago, Mike87 said:

Hi all,

 

I want to upgrade my RAM from 2x 4GB (DDR3) to 16GB RAM. I have 4 RAM Slots. Is it ok to buy 1 8GB RAM or should I also stay with 2x4GB? Are there any Pro's or Con's? 

MY MB is MSI H87-G41. 2 Slots are Blue and 2 are black

Thanks!

you can stick the 8Gb in one channel and the 2x4GB in another, it will work fine, maybe look for 2x8GB though, they're pretty cheap now. 

[Mug]

Anything from BFG, they make dank motherboards ?

 

ugh

[Mike87]

In Germany it is not that cheap... About 100€ für 2x8GB and 60€ for 2x4GB  and 54€ for 1x 8GB

 

We don't seem to have BFG here

[Gonio]

It can work, but RAM behaves odd sometimes though, so there is no guarantee unless you have all RAM from the same kit. And you will lose dual channel support like that because of only 3 sticks. Channel support has to do with bandwidth. So for most efficient use of RAM take a 2x4 kit. 16GB total is more then enough for normal use scenarios with gaming.

 

So try to match as much as possible like speeds and timings for best compatability. You will always be hold back by the slowest stick so no need to take super fast then.

 

You can read more about this in my guide from the signature.

[Andrew Sh]

35 minutes ago, Mike87 said:

Hi all,

 

I want to upgrade my RAM from 2x 4GB (DDR3) to 16GB RAM. I have 4 RAM Slots. Is it ok to buy 1 8GB RAM or should I also stay with 2x4GB? Are there any Pro's or Con's? 

MY MB is MSI H87-G41. 2 Slots are Blue and 2 are black

Thanks!

Do not get 1 stick (to make total 3)
Either replace your ones (sell them) and get 2x8gb or get 2 more 4gbs.

Ideally you want to have same brand and model.
Minimum, add 2x4gb ram sticks of the same Mhz and CL values (this is important for compatability because All your ram will run as fast as the slowest kit in the system, so if you get 1600mhz cl9 and 1866mhz cl9,your ram will run at 1600mhz cl9 speeds.

Unless you plan to do something very heavy though, I would recommend spending the 60euro into an SSD or something else though. Gaming machines don't need more than 8gb RAM

[Mike87]

24 minutes ago, Andrew Sh said:

Do not get 1 stick (to make total 3)
Either replace your ones (sell them) and get 2x8gb or get 2 more 4gbs.

Ideally you want to have same brand and model.
Minimum, add 2x4gb ram sticks of the same Mhz and CL values (this is important for compatability because All your ram will run as fast as the slowest kit in the system, so if you get 1600mhz cl9 and 1866mhz cl9,your ram will run at 1600mhz cl9 speeds.

Unless you plan to do something very heavy though, I would recommend spending the 60euro into an SSD or something else though. Gaming machines don't need more than 8gb RAM

I already have a OS SSD and a Game SSD, so that is enough.

Right now if I play BF1 it uses up about 70%-80% RAM, with nothing in the background (except OS and AV of course). But if I also want Chrome in the background it will get very near 100% and I don't want to bottleneck my System.

[Andrew Sh]

6 hours ago, Mike87 said:

I already have a OS SSD and a Game SSD, so that is enough.

Right now if I play BF1 it uses up about 70%-80% RAM, with nothing in the background (except OS and AV of course). But if I also want Chrome in the background it will get very near 100% and I don't want to bottleneck my System.

Hmm yeah maybe in that case might be worth upgrading.

In that case yeah, I'd personally recommend either get 2x4gb or if you have anyone to sell your current sticks to, get 2x8.

Just make sure to get the same ram speed (Mhz and CL also).
If you get 2x8gb then 1600mhz cl9 or 1866mhz cl9/10 is perfectly fine and you won't experience any performance issues.

[Nena Trinity]

You want 16GB if you only have 2 slots!