Is it better to use a 16GB 3200MHz stick alone or add an 8GB 2400MHz stick for dual channel?
Asked by
TechSavvy88
I'm currently using an i5-12400 with 16GB of 3200MHz RAM in a single channel setup, along with a 4070 GPU. I have an unused 8GB 2400MHz stick from an old setup. I'm wondering if it's worth it to run dual channel with this slower RAM, giving me a total of 24GB, or if I'd be better off sticking with just the 16GB 3200MHz stick. I don't really need more RAM; I'm just curious whether the single-channel 3200MHz is faster than running in dual channel with the 2400MHz stick.
Answers
In general, a dual-channel 2400MHz setup should edge out a single-channel 3200MHz in certain scenarios, mainly because of the increased bandwidth. But if your latency also plays a role, these factors can change the outcome. If you're aiming for top performance—especially in tasks that need high bandwidth—it could be beneficial to test this out.
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I tried mixing RAM from different speeds once, and it didn't go well— they wouldn't run in dual channel due to the specs mismatch. Eventually, I switched out the newer stick for two slower sticks for better stability. Just sharing my experience!
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Honestly, just give it a try! You might be surprised by the performance difference. It's kind of a straightforward test to see what works best for you.
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You’d likely have to tweak both the timings and the clock speeds to get the best performance from the combinations, but it’s worth exploring what works for your system!
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