Different types of DDR3 RAM

[jkrussell]

Hey guys,

I just ran CPU-Z on my HP Elite 8300 SFF and found that I have three different types of RAM installed. I'm a bit confused. Which is the best RAM? What is the difference in speeds? And what's the max RAM I can support?

UPDATE:
Thanks, guys. Here's the info:

It's this model:
http://ccp.infotheek.com/products/Computers/Desktops/HP/HP-Compaq-Elite-8300-Core-i5-3570-3-4-GHz-4-GB?prodid=49061&info=2

I guess what I basically need to know is: should I take out any RAM, and if I do what's the best replacement I can get (i.e., fastest for this PC)?

Thanks

 

[JobCreator]

None of those are best. It just means HP spares EVERY expense when building their computers. It means you're running at 1333MHz on all three sticks since that's the lowest speed of the three. Who puts 10GB of RAM in a computer?

 

[Tradesman1]

the sticks going across appear to be 4GB/1600, 2GB/1333, 4GB/1600 - so it appears you should be able to run at least 16GB of 1600 - check the mobo tab for the mobo model and the CPU tab for what CPU and let us know that, can check the memory tab to see what they are running at, would guess 667 (1333) or maybe 533 (1066)

 

[Nordein]

Very interesting as to why the 2GB stick is running at a lower speed than the rest. As well as having 2 manufacturers in there. If you bought this at stock this raises an eyebrow for me.

Based on the specifications page of your computer, since you have 3 RAM sticks, you must have the "Small Form Factor
Convertible Minitower", it shows that you can have up to 32GB of RAM and has 4 RAM slots.

The difference in speeds is marginal performance of around 5%.

The CAS# Latency of the 2GB ram stick means (lower the number the better) that it will respond faster than the other sticks, but it's speed of (667x2) means it is being used a bit slower. The reason why I said 667x2 is because DDR3 means Double Date Rate, the 3 is not important for this situation. So your 2GB stick is operating at 1300Mhz

The 4GB ram sticks will operate a bit faster, but respond a little slower. Your speeds for the RAM are 1600Mhz

Both are equally good with marginally being better than the other in terms of speed. But the 4GB are better because of the bigger amount that they hold.

 

[jkrussell]

Should I scrap the RAM I've already got and just purchase four 8gb modules? Which ones would you recommend?

Thanks so much for your help by the way!

 

[jkrussell]

Can my motherboard take the 1600mhz (or whatever the best is)?

 

[Cotton_]

Should I scrap the RAM I've already got and just purchase four 8gb modules? Which ones would you recommend?

Thanks so much for your help by the way!

4x8GB is WAAAAAY overkill, you're never gonna use that much on that PC, so save your money
I would go for 4x2GB or 2x4GB, a total of 8GB but at 1600mhz and CL9 as budget solution.
Or 4x4GB if you think you realy need/want 16GB of RAM.
But surely no more since that will never be used by that CPU.

I personally recommend going only with 8GB of ram maximum, all of the same type though.
You will find that more than sufficient cause they will work better than the mixed bag of DDR3 sticks you have right now.

EDIT: Your MoBo and CPU should handle 1600mhz without problem.
Though 1600mhz isn't the best there is, it's the best your CPU supports, so don't buy anything higher than 1600mhz cause your CPU won't use it anyway.