I upgraded to an AM4 system about two years ago and I initially got a minimum ATX motherboard due to my case size. I bought two identical 8GB sticks of RAM at 3200MHz, but I've noticed that games are requiring more RAM. I'm considering upgrading one of the sticks to a 16GB one. The only option I've found that matches my budget is a 2666MHz stick. I'm wondering if having more RAM is worth the performance drop, especially since I game on a 60Hz monitor? Also, will the 2666MHz stick be compatible with my 3200MHz RAM?
1 Answer
All RAM sticks will operate at the speed of the slowest one, so if you mix a 3200MHz stick with a 2666MHz one, they’ll both run at 2666MHz. That said, you should still be okay!
I've seen advice suggesting you should always use identical RAM sticks for optimal performance, which has me worried about instability. Is the drop from 3200MHz to 2666MHz really significant, especially on a budget build?