I currently have 16GB of RAM using two 8GB T-Force DDR4 sticks, and I'd like to move up to 32GB for streaming. Would it be better to buy two more sticks that match my current kit, or replace them with a new 2x16GB kit?
3 Answers
A matched 2x16GB kit is generally the safer choice. Using fewer sticks usually makes memory settings easier to stabilize, and you’ll keep two slots open for a future upgrade. Mixing different kits—even with similar specifications—can sometimes force you to lower the RAM speed or manually adjust voltages.
On some AM4 systems, four single-rank sticks can perform just as well as two, so adding another matching pair isn’t automatically worse. The important parts are the memory rank, exact compatibility, and whether the kit is actually stable at its advertised speed.
I’d lean toward 2x16GB, but check the exact RAM speed and timings first. Two different kits may not run at their rated settings together, even if both are DDR4-3600, for example. If you add more sticks, buying the same model is preferable, while a factory-matched 2x16GB kit is usually the least troublesome option.
Four DDR4 sticks can work perfectly well, especially if the new sticks match the existing ones closely. I’m running 4x8GB with the memory overclocking profile enabled without problems. Just make sure the motherboard and processor support the target speed.
That makes sense. I’d probably need to sell my current sticks if I switched to 2x16GB, though.