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Mixing RAM Memory Sizes

amardilo
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Can I use RAM with different memory sizes in my machine without having adverse effects?

 

I built a PC back in 2016 for work, gaming and general web browsing. At the time I put in 16GB (2 sticks of 8GB) of 3600MHz DDR4 RAM from Corsair. My work requires me to run a lot of Docker images and virtual machines and I find myself often running low on RAM (I have to close something to start something else). So I want to buy some more RAM but the same 16GB kit now costs about double what I paid in 2016 and I don't want to spend that much. Can I buy a 8GB kit (2 sticks of 4GB) with the same specs (i.e same brand, latency and speed) without it having an adverse effect on my PC? 

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20 minutes ago, schwellmo92 said:

Yes you can

 

Awesome! Thanks for that.

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Yes, I would recommend putting one 8gb and one 4gb stick in each channel so that you'd get full dual channel.

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CPU: i7 6700k, CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3, Motherboard: MSI Z170a KRAIT GAMING, RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 Series 4x4gb DDR4-2666 MHz, Storage: SanDisk SSD Plus 240gb + OCZ Vertex 180 480 GB + Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB 7200 RPM, Video Card: EVGA GTX 970 SSC, Case: Fractal Design Define S, Power Supply: Seasonic Focus+ Gold 650w Yay, Keyboard: Logitech G710+, Mouse: Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum, Headphones: B&O H9i, Monitor: LG 29um67 (2560x1080 75hz freesync)

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CPU: Pentium G4400, CPU Cooler: Stock, Motherboard: MSI h110l Pro Mini AC, RAM: Hyper X Fury DDR4 1x8gb 2133 MHz, Storage: PNY CS1311 120gb SSD + two Segate 4tb HDDs in RAID 1, Video Card: Does Intel Integrated Graphics count?, Case: Fractal Design Node 304, Power Supply: Seasonic 360w 80+ Gold, Keyboard+Mouse+Monitor: Does it matter?

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And if you're curious (or a stalker) I have a Just Black Pixel 2 XL 64gb

 

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6 hours ago, DocSwag said:

Yes, I would recommend putting one 8gb and one 4gb stick in each channel so that you'd get full dual channel.

 

Thanks.

 

What would happen if I buy totally different RAM (i.e. same manufacturer so it looks the same from the outside but it's 2 sticks of 4GB at a slower speed of 3200MHz)? Would that have an effect on the games I play (when I am gaming RAM hasn't been an issue in the past) or will it slow down my existing RAM?

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2 hours ago, amardilo said:

 

Thanks.

 

What would happen if I buy totally different RAM (i.e. same manufacturer so it looks the same from the outside but it's 2 sticks of 4GB at a slower speed of 3200MHz)? Would that have an effect on the games I play (when I am gaming RAM hasn't been an issue in the past) or will it slow down my existing RAM?

It should still work but applying XMP might have issues. You'd be recommended to buy similar stuff.

Make sure to quote me or tag me when responding to me, or I might not know you replied! Examples:

 

Do this:

Quote

And make sure you do it by hitting the quote button at the bottom left of my post, and not the one inside the editor!

Or this:

@DocSwag

 

Buy whatever product is best for you, not what product is "best" for the market.

 

Interested in computer architecture? Still in middle or high school? P.M. me!

 

I love computer hardware and feel free to ask me anything about that (or phones). I especially like SSDs. But please do not ask me anything about Networking, programming, command line stuff, or any relatively hard software stuff. I know next to nothing about that.

 

Compooters:

Spoiler

Desktop:

Spoiler

CPU: i7 6700k, CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3, Motherboard: MSI Z170a KRAIT GAMING, RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 Series 4x4gb DDR4-2666 MHz, Storage: SanDisk SSD Plus 240gb + OCZ Vertex 180 480 GB + Western Digital Caviar Blue 1 TB 7200 RPM, Video Card: EVGA GTX 970 SSC, Case: Fractal Design Define S, Power Supply: Seasonic Focus+ Gold 650w Yay, Keyboard: Logitech G710+, Mouse: Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum, Headphones: B&O H9i, Monitor: LG 29um67 (2560x1080 75hz freesync)

Home Server:

Spoiler

CPU: Pentium G4400, CPU Cooler: Stock, Motherboard: MSI h110l Pro Mini AC, RAM: Hyper X Fury DDR4 1x8gb 2133 MHz, Storage: PNY CS1311 120gb SSD + two Segate 4tb HDDs in RAID 1, Video Card: Does Intel Integrated Graphics count?, Case: Fractal Design Node 304, Power Supply: Seasonic 360w 80+ Gold, Keyboard+Mouse+Monitor: Does it matter?

Laptop (I use it for school):

Spoiler

Surface book 2 13" with an i7 8650u, 8gb RAM, 256 GB storage, and a GTX 1050

And if you're curious (or a stalker) I have a Just Black Pixel 2 XL 64gb

 

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9 hours ago, amardilo said:

 

Thanks.

 

What would happen if I buy totally different RAM (i.e. same manufacturer so it looks the same from the outside but it's 2 sticks of 4GB at a slower speed of 3200MHz)? Would that have an effect on the games I play (when I am gaming RAM hasn't been an issue in the past) or will it slow down my existing RAM?

As long as you run dual Ram slots of the same speed, frequency and size you should get the benefit of dual channel performance.

Dual channel doubles the bandwidth of the ram and lessens the risk of bottle neck performance.

https://www.ramcity.com.au/view/what-is-dual-channel-mode/what-is-dual-channel-mode

 

As example in my last computer build in 2015 I used:

2x Kingston HyperX Savage 8GB 1600MHz DDR3

2x Kingston HyperX Savage 4GB 1600MHz DDR3

Computer reads it as 24GB of RAM.

Current computers:

Primary Computer (In Progress):

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SUBJECT TO CHANGE

CASE: ROSEWIL THOR V2 Black

CPU:

Motherboard:

GPU: SAPPHIRE VEGA 56 -TBU RTX 2070 SUPER

RAM: 48 GB CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX
PSU: SEASONIC PRIME 1300 W GOLD

STORAGE: 4x SEAGATE EXOS 4TB | Sans Digital HDD 5-Bay Rack | Sisun IDE SATA HDD Docking Station 

SOUND SYSTEM: Logitech Z506 Surround Sound via Vantec USB External 7.1 Channel Audio Adapter  

MOUSE: 16000DPI GAMING MOUSE

KEYBOARD: -PENDING-

MONITOR: -PENDING- AOC AGON AG241QX 24" -PENDING-

COOLING:  CPU: Noctua NH-D15 -3x NF-F12 Fan MOD || 10-12X NF-F12 || EXHAUST: 3x NA-A12x25

LAST UPDATED 4/29/20

Secondary Computer:

Spoiler

CPU: AMD FX-8370 Black Edition 

Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 R2.0

GPU: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 AMP! Omega Core Edition 

RAM: 24GB Kingston HyperX Savage 1600MHz DDR3
PSU: Antec High Current Gamer HCG-900W

STORAGE: 5x Western Digital Black 2TB - WD2003FZEX | Sans Digital HDD 5-Bay Rack | Sisun IDE SATA HDD Docking Station 

SOUND SYSTEM: Logitech Z506 Surround Sound via Vantec USB External 7.1 Channel Audio Adapter  

MOUSE: PUREX 2400 DPI Wired Laser Gaming Mouse

KEYBOARD: DBPOWER 104 Key -3 Backlit -I KNOW! Linus doesn't approve -I have glued it to the desk and it works well for my needs.

MONITOR: ASUS VS247H-P 24 Inch 

COOLING: CPU: Noctua NH-D14 -3x NF-F12 Fan MOD || 10-12X NF-F12 || EXHAUST: 3x NA-A12x25

GRAPHICS: 2x NF12s fans on graphics card + 2x NF-F12s & 1x NA-A12x25 in Fan box | 1x Vantec SP-FC70-BL Spectrum System Fan Cards

 

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