I'm currently using two RAM sticks in dual channel mode (slots 2 and 4), giving me a total of 32GB. However, I'm considering adding a 16GB stick from a different brand to slot 1 or 3, which would increase my total to 48GB. What would happen if I did this? Am I wasting my time since the new stick is different? Will the extra capacity or speed give me a noticeable benefit, or is it better to stay with just the 32GB?
4 Answers
Before you add more RAM, ask yourself: do you really need it? If you’re running out of RAM, then yes, adding more can help. Otherwise, having extra RAM that you're not using won't boost your performance much. If you do add that new stick, it would run in flex mode: 32GB in dual channel and 16GB in single channel.
Adding a different 16GB stick could throw you into a mixed channel setup, which means you'll have 32GB running in dual channel and the additional RAM in single channel. For most users, 32GB is more than enough unless you're doing very intensive work. So, it might not be worth it since the performance gain from extra RAM can be minimal if your applications don't need it.
Mixing RAM brands and types can lead to stability issues. If you’re using different capacities or even different brands, there might be compatibility problems, especially with things like timings. If you've already got a solid setup, it might be better to stick with what you have.
What if I just stick to using the same brand in both dual channel and add an identical one to the empty slots? Would that work better?
Make sure to check whether your current setup is DDR4 or DDR5, because that will impact compatibility and performance.
I’m on DDR5, so I thought it would work, but now I'm worried about the mixing.
That's exactly what I was worried about. I might have an opportunity to snag that DDR5 16GB stick, but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle.