I've been using my current PC with two 8GB RAM sticks for about three years now. Recently, I found two old 4GB RAM sticks from a computer I rarely use. I'm wondering if I should install them alongside my current RAM. Are there any potential issues I should be aware of? I can provide more details if needed.
5 Answers
It's generally better to stick with RAM that has the same speed and timings. If the older sticks are slower, your faster ones will downclock to match, which can affect performance, especially if you're running out of memory. There's a chance your system might not boot with mismatched sticks, or you could face stability problems like crashes. But, there's no harm in trying them out; if they don't work well, just take them out.
Just to confirm, are both of your RAM sets DDR4? That’s essential for compatibility.
Honestly, I wouldn't even bother adding those old sticks. You'll probably be better off without them.
It really depends on compatibility. Make sure both sets are the same type—like DDR4. If they are, you should be fine, but mixing RAM can sometimes lead to issues.
Thanks for the advice!