Can you mix RAM sizes?

Most laptops or computers come with at least two slots for RAM sticks, if not more. Most modern motherboards will provide four RAM slots. There's a prevailing misconception you cannot use different RAM sizes together or that you cannot mix RAM brands. Simply put, that's not true.

Can you mix RAM brands and sizes?

Can You Mix Different RAM Brands? In short, the answer to this question is: yes. No matter the brand, speed, and size of the RAM, theoretically, you can mix and match RAM in your system, though it may prove to be problematic.

Can you mix 8GB and 4GB RAM?

Yes, you can use 8GB RAM together with 4GB RAM.

Can I use 2 RAM with different capacity?

Yes, you can use different brand RAM sticks together, even if they don't have the same size. However, using mismatched RAM modules may negatively affect the performance and stability of your computer for the reasons we describe in detail in this article.

Is it OK to mix RAM speeds?

You can use memory modules of different speeds as long as they are faster than those specified for your computer. It is recommended to use modules of the same speed as those already installed in your system. If you do mix speeds, the modules will all run at the speed of your slowest modules.

Just How Bad is Mixing Memory?

Is 32 GB RAM overkill?

32GB of RAM is considered high and is generally overkill for most users. For most everyday use and basic tasks such as web browsing, email, and basic office work, 8GB of RAM is more than enough. Even for gaming or video editing, 16GB is typically sufficient.

Is 64 GB RAM overkill?

Is 64/128 GB of RAM Overkill? For the majority of users, it is. If you plan on building a PC purely for gaming and some general, basic, everyday activity, 64 GB of RAM is just too much. The amount of RAM you need will ultimately depend on your workload.

Does RAM need to match?

A common misconception about RAM is that you can put any RAM into any slot. You can do that, but it won't work, or it will work ineffectively. If you have four RAM slots, always buy matched pairs of RAM (two sticks from the same company, same speed, and same capacity) for the best results.

Can I use 16GB and 32gb RAM?

Theoretically yes, but it will depend on the motherboard model that you have. Some motherboard support only 8Gb modules but other will support 16Gb.

Can you mix DDR4 and DDR5 RAM?

Motherboards are built to support only one type of memory, so you can't mix and match SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, or DDR5 memory on the same motherboard.

Can you mix DDR3 and DDR4 RAM?

Every DDR generation is different from the others. DDR4 is not backward-compatible with DDR3 so a DDR4 DIMM will not fit on a DDR3 DIMM slot. Not only is the key notch of each DDR generation different (please refer to Figure 1 above), but the DDR4 pin size and arrangement is different from DDR3.

Is 16 GB RAM good for gaming?

16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay.

Can I use 2 sticks of 8GB RAM and 2 sticks of 4gb RAM?

As long as you have 4 available memory slots, yes you can use 2 8GB memory modules and 2 4GB memory modules at the same time. This does ASSUME that both sets of memory are compatible.

Can you mix 3200 and 3600 RAM?

It is completely fine to pair 3600MHz with 3200MHz. The 3600MHz will just run at a maximum of 3200MHz.

Is 3200MHz RAM good?

Both 3200Mhz and 3600MHz of RAM have a very outstanding performance. They can be operated using the correct devices to give effective results. When compared to other RAM sizes, the performance of these two RAM sizes is excellent and highly recommended.

Does all RAM fit all motherboards?

Since each type of memory has different notch locations (which are important for installation), different memory technologies aren't compatible with each other. Motherboards are generally only able to support one type of memory technology.

Can too much RAM slow down your computer?

The speed and capacity of your PC's system memory or RAM can significantly affect your computer's startup speed. Nevertheless, adding more RAM will only be helpful up to a certain point. Adding too much RAM will eventually jeopardize the computer's performance, even when you have enough of it.

Is 16GB or 32GB better for gaming?

16GB of RAM is considered the 'sweet spot. ' It allows for solid game playing, high-intensity work with computer programs, and gives you a fair amount of memory. If you want to be a serious gamer, 16Gb might be your ideal setup.

Is 128 GB RAM overkill?

Unless you're editing 8K resolution videos or planning to work with multiple RAM-demanding programs simultaneously, 128 GB is overkill for most users as well. Those who run workloads that demand upwards of 128 GB will probably already know how much RAM they need.

Is it bad to have mismatched RAM?

Mismatched sizes of RAM sticks can affect memory configuration. A larger RAM module paired with a smaller one causes asynchronous operation. You may know this as Flex Mode. It can cause the smaller RAM to pair with only half of the bigger RAM module.

Do all 4 sticks of RAM have to match?

Most modern motherboards will provide four RAM slots. There's a prevailing misconception you cannot use different RAM sizes together or that you cannot mix RAM brands. Simply put, that's not true.

What happens if RAM is faster than motherboard?

If you try to install and use a RAM module that operates beyond the speeds that the CPU and the motherboard can support, it will lead to unstable system performance and/or boot issues. Mismatched memory will do this as well. In taking the DDR4-3200 as an example, mismatched memory could halve that speed to 1800MHz!

Is 256 GB RAM overkill?

A 256GB kit of RAM is overkill for gaming, but G. Skill also unveiled several ultra-low latency kits at lower capacities. … Generally speaking, there is a definite improvement in upgrading from 8GB to 16GB of RAM, though the jump to 32GB and beyond is less substantive.

How much RAM is overkill for gaming?

For gamers, 64GB is certainly overkill: 16GB will be fine for new title releases in the near future. It's what else is on your PC hoovering up the memory that might require it. Browsers can eat up several gigs, particularly if you have a bunch of tabs open and extensions loaded.

What is the highest RAM in PC?

Remember that 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education will support up to 2TB of RAM, while the 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home is limited to only 128GB. Bear in mind that how much RAM your system supports, along with the type and speed, will depend on your motherboard.