Is it a good idea to mix 8GB and 16GB RAM in a dual-channel setup?
Asked by
TechieGamer99
I recently built a new PC, and I'm really enjoying it! I'm using a B760 motherboard with four DDR4 RAM slots, currently filled with 2x16GB sticks at 3200 MT/s. The plan was to upgrade to 64GB in the future, but due to a recent RAM shortage, I'm concerned about rising prices and scarcity. I've looked around, and while I can't find individual 16GB sticks, there are some 8GB DDR4 3200 sticks available. Would it be a smart move to buy 2x8GB to utilize the open slots and run dual channel? Are there any potential issues I should be aware of? Although 32GB is enough for now, I just thought it would be good to fill those empty slots.
Answers
If you don’t need the upgrade, it’s probably best to hold off. Mixing different RAM sticks can lead to issues, especially since you'd have 4 different sticks which might not run at the same speed or timings. You could lose the benefits of dual-channel memory if the sticks don’t play nicely together. I’d recommend keeping the spare slots empty for now.
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User221B: I get it, but if I do decide to upgrade later to 64GB with 2x32GB sticks, should I worry about the brand, or just matching the specs is enough?