Can I add a 4GB RAM with an existing 2 GB RAM?

[Thor159]

I have a 2 GB single stick RAM installed in my PC

Specs:--

Strontium EVM
2 GB DDR3 DIMM 1333 MHz
1.5 volts

I want to add a 4 GB stick and make it (2+4)=6 GB.

Can I do this?
There will be any problem?
Will it be efficient?

 

[elbert]

Yes it should work but if its single sticks you will not have dual channel. Also know if your running 32bit OS'es you will only see about 3.25Gb's.

 

[Thor159]

Can you please explain I am a noob in these. I have 64 bits windows.

 

[elbert]

Dual channel allow your RAM bandwidth to retrieval of files faster. Its not a major impact on your speed but enough that most want it working.

 

[geofelt]

Perhaps.
What is your motherboard?
CPU-Z will tell you.

In theory, one can add 4gb.
If it works, 2gb from each channel will operate in faster dual channel mode and the odd 2gb will be in slower single channel mode.

The operative consideration is "If it works"
Your odds of success are less than 100%

Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.

What will you do of you buy the ram and it does not work?

My suggestion is to go to a ram vendor like Kingston, corsair, g.skil and access their ram upgrade app.
Enter the make/model of your motherboard and you will get a list of supported kits.
Buy a kit of the capacity you need.

Keep the 2gb stick as a backup.

 

[rgd1101]

what is the make and model of the motherboard?

 

[Thor159]

I have a GIGABYTE H61M-S motherboard.
I thought upgrading to 6GB is good for multitasking. If I upgrade will there be any problem.

 

[elbert]

Only if your using a 32bit OS it will limit you to 3.25GB' or there about. If your using 64bit tho all 6GB's should be good and should help performance by a lot. Beings your motherboard supports 16GB's I would suggest a 8GB stick for a total of 10.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.99 @ Jet)
Total: $43.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-01-01 11:34 EST-0500

 

[Thor159]

+elbert you mean that I can use it without any problem.

Though my motherboard supports highest 1333MHz frequency.

 

[elbert]

Memory has other profiles the 1600 is just its highest the memory I linked has. Most all DDR3 memory has several profile settings but starts around DDR3 1066. You will have to set it in bios to your 1333 no matter which you buy. Now your motherboard cant run the memory at 1600 without xmp but they are the lower priced atm. Only memory that absolutly doesn't work is wrong DDR and memory outside the voltage limits of the motherboard. This memory is jedec 1.5v.

 

[Thor159]

Thanks for helping.