Upgrading RAM: Do I Need the Same Brand for Dual-Channel?

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Asked By TechieWizard123 On

I have a Dell laptop with an 8GB Dell Rx16 RAM already installed, and I want to upgrade to a total of 16GB. I'm looking to add another 8GB stick and I'm wondering if it has to be the same Dell Rx16 8GB RAM to take advantage of dual-channel memory, or if I can use an 8GB stick from a different brand, like Crucial, instead. I know there are two SODIMM slots and one is empty. What are your thoughts?

2 Answers

Answered By GadgetGuru87 On

Mixing RAM sticks isn't the best practice, but it's not a disaster either! Generally, using a Crucial stick would work fine with your Dell one. The performance drop isn't significant enough that you have to buy an entire 8x2 kit if you already have a stick you want to keep.

Answered By MemoryMaster45 On

As long as you fill both slots, you'll benefit from dual-channel memory. If both sticks are the same size, you'll get full dual-channel performance. If not, you still get some benefit, but only up to the size of the smaller stick, which is called flex dual channel. However, mixing RAM can sometimes lead to stability issues, and I usually recommend getting a full kit for the best results.

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