Hey everyone! I'm currently using a 16GB RAM stick, but I notice that my applications frequently max out my RAM usage. I feel like I just need a bit more, around 20GB should suffice. Would it be a good idea to mix a 24GB stick with my current one? How would that affect performance?
3 Answers
It's generally okay to mix RAM, but you're correct that it will limit the speed to the slowest stick. If it's dual channel kits you're after, I suggest looking for another 16GB stick. Using mismatched RAM may result in lower performance, especially on Ryzen systems where the slowest speed can impact speed significantly. On Intel systems, it’s not as bad, but you'll still lose dual channel benefits and could run into instability issues. Just something to think about!
Mixing RAM usually works fine, but just keep in mind that both sticks will run at the speed of the slower one. So, if one stick is 4800 MT/s and the other is 5200 MT/s, they both will operate at 4800 MT/s. If you're more concerned about having enough capacity, it shouldn't cause any major problems, but I wouldn't rely on it long-term. Good luck!
Windows tends to use as much RAM as you give it, so even with 24GB, it’ll try to fill it up. Unless you’re running specific RAM-hungry applications, like badly optimized games or resource-intensive video editing software, upgrading may not be necessary! Keep that in mind.
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