Can I buy 1 4gb RAM stick if I have already 2x2gb RAM sticks in use?

[Evix]

So I have atm only 4gb RAM and I kinda want to upgrade it to 8gb RAM since all the new games needs it nowadays. I was thinking can I buy one single 4gb Ram stick and get it working with my other 2x2gb RAM's?

My CPU cooler is blocking my 3rd RAM slot and I don't want to remove my cooler just so I can upgrade 2 sticks more to my PC (it was really tricky cooler to install). So I'm going to use it on my 4th slot if possible (1 and 2 slots are in use)

Motherboard:

RAM slot 1:

RAM slot 2:

And what RAM you suggest me to get?

 

[getochkn]

It will work. It won't work in dual channel, but there isn't a huge benefit to that, and any benefit would be lost by having 8GB over 4GB. See if you can find a A-Data 4GB, just look for something the same voltage and roughly the same timing. It shows you are running at 667, which means 1333 RAM speed, and it is using the info from JEDEC #4 column, so you want ram that has roughly the same timing so look for something like 9-9-9-24

 

[Evix]

Thanks for the fast reply.. I think these are the RAM's I bought like 5 years ago - http://www.amazon.com/ADATA-1600Mhz-Desktop-Memory-AX3U1600GB2G9-2G/dp/B002EJ2P2G/ref=pd_sxp_redirect

I tried to find similar CL9 1600Mhz 4GB A-Data RAM stick, but couldn't find from anywhere.. Can you link some suggest RAM's if possible?

 

[Evix]

Oh and this is the motherboard I have http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/890GX%20Extreme3/

I just want to find one 4gb RAM stick that fits with my 2x2gb 1600Mhz CL9

 

[Evix]

It will work. It won't work in dual channel, but there isn't a huge benefit to that, and any benefit would be lost by having 8GB over 4GB. See if you can find a A-Data 4GB, just look for something the same voltage and roughly the same timing. It shows you are running at 667, which means 1333 RAM speed, and it is using the info from JEDEC #4 column, so you want ram that has roughly the same timing so look for something like 9-9-9-24

Anyway I would love if someone could recommend me some single 4gb RAM with same spects than this one http://www.amazon.com/ADATA-1600Mhz-Desktop-Memory-AX3U1600GB2G9-2G/dp/B002EJ2P2G/ref=pd_sxp_redirect

 

[Tradesman1]

Best to get a set of 2x4GB, regardless of what was said above, there are no guarantees that you can mix your old DRAM with any DRAM from a different package, even if you were to find the same exact model of DRAM you already have , more on this in my FAQs and Fiction article, Part 2, Fiction, Item 2:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2741495/ddr3-faqs-fiction.html

 

[getochkn]

Ya, it is hit and miss with RAM. You'd probably end up paying more to try and get a same timing ADATA chip than a cheap 8GB set. I just figured if you were dead set on using it, that was the best option. Same type and timing can give better results.

 

[Tradesman1]

Ya, it is hit and miss with RAM. You'd probably end up paying more to try and get a same timing ADATA chip than a cheap 8GB set. I just figured if you were dead set on using it, that was the best option. Same type and timing can give better results.

_______________

Yep, very hit or miss, maybe 50/50. If however they will play, and the BIOS is good there's a chance they would in fact run in dual channel mode also, not positive, but AMD had their own version of Intel's flex mode which allows mixing sticks like 2+2 next to a single 4GB and run as dual. Not positive on this given mobo. But the bit of only working in single channel has also been a myth for a few years now (and covered in the same article 😉

 

[getochkn]

Ya, it is hit and miss with RAM. You'd probably end up paying more to try and get a same timing ADATA chip than a cheap 8GB set. I just figured if you were dead set on using it, that was the best option. Same type and timing can give better results.

_______________

Yep, very hit or miss, maybe 50/50. If however they will play, and the BIOS is good there's a chance they would in fact run in dual channel mode also, not positive, but AMD had their own version of Intel's flex mode which allows mixing sticks like 2+2 next to a single 4GB and run as dual. Not positive on this given mobo. But the bit of only working in single channel has also been a myth for a few years now (and covered in the same article 😉

Thanks, I'll bookmark your article and give it a read.

 

[Evix]

Ya, it is hit and miss with RAM. You'd probably end up paying more to try and get a same timing ADATA chip than a cheap 8GB set. I just figured if you were dead set on using it, that was the best option. Same type and timing can give better results.

_______________

Yep, very hit or miss, maybe 50/50. If however they will play, and the BIOS is good there's a chance they would in fact run in dual channel mode also, not positive, but AMD had their own version of Intel's flex mode which allows mixing sticks like 2+2 next to a single 4GB and run as dual. Not positive on this given mobo. But the bit of only working in single channel has also been a myth for a few years now (and covered in the same article 😉

One of the stores in the Finland was selling this http://www.amazon.com/ADATA-DDR3-1333-PC3-10666-Memory-AD3U1333B2G9R/dp/B002DY3UNU (4gb one) for 9,90e so I decided to buy it for the test.. I don't lose that much money so I don't mind it.

If it's not going to work with the other 2x2gb rams I'm just going to buy 2x4gb kit and remove my old rams.

 

[Tradesman1]

Hopefully it will, just want users to know there are no guarantees, the forums are full of folks being told "Yes - that will work" and all too often it doesn't 😉

 

[Evix]

It worked fine.. I'm using now 2x2gb and 1x4gb = 8gb

 

[Tradesman1]

Glad to hear all is well 😉