I've got an older PC that I haven't really updated since 2016. I'm looking to upgrade it gradually, and it currently has 2 sticks of 4GB RAM. For the upgrade, would it be better to add 2 more 4GB sticks for a total of 16GB, or should I replace the existing ones with 2 new 8GB sticks to bump it up to 16GB as well?
2 Answers
Generally, it's recommended to stick with 2 sticks instead of going to 4. That said, depending on your setup, the speed difference might not be as noticeable, especially if you have an older system. If you're running something like a 9th Gen Intel or older AMD, just go for the most cost-effective option to reach your desired capacity. Adding 2 sticks of 8GB would give you a total of 24GB, which should work great!
You can actually mix and match RAM sticks! Running 2 sticks of 4GB and 2 sticks of 8GB is perfectly fine. Just make sure your motherboard supports it. You mentioned having a GTX 1080 and an Intel i7 7700, so you should be in good shape. Don't stress too much; just have fun learning about this stuff!
Thanks for the advice!