I recently built my PC before RAM prices took off. I initially got a single 16 GB stick of DDR5 (G.Skill Flare X5 16 GB DDR5-6000 CL36). Now, I found a great deal on two 8 GB sticks of DDR5 (Kingston FURY Beast RGB 16 GB DDR5-6000 CL36) on Facebook Marketplace for just $45. My questions are: Do I need to upgrade the older RAM stick? They're different brands; will they work together? Which configuration is better? If I decide to upgrade, what should I look for? Also, would one set hold back the other in terms of performance?
3 Answers
No need to worry about mixing those sticks! I've done the same, adding cheaper RAM to increase my total. Just follow your motherboard's manual for the dual-channel configuration. For example, I used A2 and B2 slots for the original kit, while my new sticks ran in A1 and B1. Just keep in mind that if the RAM timings are different, your system will operate at the lower frequency.
You should definitely try using them together! If you can get all the memory running at 6000 MT/s with CL36, that's an awesome setup. Just remember that when mixing different brands, the motherboard will typically default to the specs of the slower module. So, make sure to check that everything is properly recognized in your system settings.
If budget's tight, there are always ways to make extra cash—just kidding! Seriously, you should be fine with 32 GB in total. Give one of those sticks to someone who needs it! But really, just ensure that you've configured everything correctly and you should see great performance regardless.
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