Swapping between Old Premades (Solved)

[DexFox]

I literally just created an account to ask this question since I know this site is a good place to go anyways 

I have an old Dell Optiplex 390 and an HP Pavilion 550-153w I use the pavilion more for gaming and I wanted to know if I could swap the ram in them because the Optiplex has more

I already read the part about the Optiplex one may be a little weaker with the 6gbs of ram since they are mismatched but I wanted to know if this would even work at all like this one small number there that makes it impossible

 

If you know please write back I don't want to damage anything

P.S Sorry for my horrible writing skills
 

[Pip313]

If they are both ddr3 then feel free to mix and match how you please. People over hype matching the sticks. You’ll get the most benefit if they match per channel. Like 2 4gb sticks in the same channel and another 2 4gb in the other. But if one channel has 2 4gb and the other has 2 2gb you’re fine too.

[Pip313]

But if you don’t have size matches then still max it out the best you can. Single channel isn’t that bad and more ram is always better than less.

 

what sticks are in both systems so we can help more specifically. From the sounds of it the optiplex has a 4gb and a 2gb or 3 2gb’s.

[DexFox]

actually, the Optiplex has 2 4gb and it is the pavilion that has 4gb and 2gb

[DexFox]

the reason i said is that of this "NOTE: Memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology. If the memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance. The entire 8GB memory range is available to 64-bit operating systems." on the optiplex guide

[Pip313]

Slight reduction is the key phrase. I’d rather have 12gb of single channel than 8gb of dual channel. 

[Pip313]

But just swapping the 8gb for the 6gb is fine. The reduction is the same weither it’s in the hp or the Dell. 

[DexFox]

ok thank you very much and again sorry about my writing skills

[Pip313]

It’s all good. Honestly I have a 2gb stick I have no use for. I’ll just give it to you if you want.

 

both my systems are at their 16gb max.