I'm looking to upgrade the RAM in my laptop, which currently has 8GB. Previously, I had 8GB paired with 16GB, and while it worked well initially, my laptop started freezing after about a year. I suspect it was due to the quality of the RAM. Now, I'm debating whether to add another 8GB for a total of 16GB or just go for a full 16GB upgrade. I've read that some recommend matching pairs for efficiency, while others say a mix of 8GB and 16GB can still function adequately, albeit with some limitations. I mainly game (sometimes heavily) and usually have multiple applications running in the background. What would be the best choice for me?
2 Answers
If it were me, I'd just go for 2 new 16GB sticks if you can swing it. But I totally get that budget can be tight. If you really need to save some cash, adding another 8GB might still give you a nice performance boost without breaking the bank. Just keep in mind you might not get the same efficiency as with matching pairs.
It's usually best to use matching RAM sticks, like 2x8GB or even 2x16GB. That way you get the full benefit of dual channel memory, which can really help with performance. If you mix 8GB and 16GB, you'll still have more RAM, but you might lose some efficiency since it won't run in full dual channel mode.
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