Can I buy an 8gb memory stick and put it into one of the memory slots on my mobo.

[BBeck92]

I have an ASUS A55BM mobo with one 4gb stick in at right now at 2133mhz. I want to upgrade the memory but I want more than just adding 4gb more. Can I buy an 8gb stick and add it with the 4gb stick that I already have? Can I just buy 2 8 gb sticks and replace the 4gb one that I already have? Thanks!

 

[knight_of_baawa]

Yes to all of your questions.

 

[te100]

first you will need 64 bit os. to run ram in dual channel you need two that match

 

[BBeck92]

first you will need 64 bit os. to run ram in dual channel you need two that match

so are you correct or the other guy who commented first lol? He said "Yes to all your questions" so he is basically saying that I can mix any memory stick with another.

 

[GlenicoNico]

first you will need 64 bit os. to run ram in dual channel you need two that match

so are you correct or the other guy who commented first lol? He said "Yes to all your questions" so he is basically saying that I can mix any memory stick with another.

both of them are correct.

 

[BBeck92]

lol come on! Are their any downsides to adding an 8gb stick with my 4gb stick for a total of 12gb? Do i need to use the same brand name? It's a G.Skill Sniper Series 4gb card

 

[GlenicoNico]

lol come on! Are their any downsides to adding an 8gb stick with my 4gb stick for a total of 12gb? Do i need to use the same brand name? It's a G.Skill Sniper Series 4gb card

No downsides of have 12gb of ram, having more ram means that you can multitask more (i think), no you don't have to use the same brand, but just for looks, stick to the same brand and model.

 

[BBeck92]

will do, thanks!

 

[jshoop]

i'll try and clear it up for you.

you CAN do everything you said, however, heres where it gets more complicated.

mixing ram is always a risk, some ram just doesnt work with other ram, even of the same brand. the only way to have the best possibility of getting them to work is to buy the same speed, timings, and voltages.

if you have a 4gb stick right now, you are running in single channel mode. everything your computer does goes to that one ram stick. If you add a second 4gb stick, and if it works (which it can) you will run in dual channel mode. this provides a big performance boost, especially with whatever processor you have (a-series im guessing) just make sure you put the sticks in the same colored slot, and the sticks are the same size/timings/voltages/speed etc.

it would be best to buy 2 8gb sticks if you want to upgrade. that will give you 16gb of ram, which is the most ram any gaming/web browsing type pc will need.

you can attempt to increase your ram even more if you have 4 ram slots. you can try buying the same voltages/timings/speeds as the 4gb stick you have now, in a dual channel kit (2 8gbs) and a single 4gb stick. Then, you can put the ram in this order: 8gb/4gb/8gb/4gb and that will still enable dual channel ram, and give you 24gb of ram

 

[jitpublisher]

It is best to run ram in combinations of 2 matching, identical sticks this way you get dual channel memory operation and performance, which basically doubles the bandwidth of your memory. Real world performance, it depends on what you are doing. Gaming, dual channel mode with net you roughly a 7% increase.You do not have to do this though, different size sticks, along with different timings and speed can work together, (usually, but not always) but they will only run in single channel mode, just as the single stick you have now is doing.

#1 rule buying memory. Buy and install in matching pairs. It is the most logical approach. If you can only afford 1 stick, buy an identical stick later to go with it. 8 gig is plenty of memory for gaming, get another stick that matches what you have.