Question Is it okay to mix 32g of ram and 16g of ram?

[jux3e]

I'm currently running a couple accounts on some games and it's hitting 95% of my ram constantly, which I've heard isn't bad, but I've heard it can cause heat damage over time. Plus I'd like to be able to use my computer for other things at the same time.

I was thinking of mixing my current 16g of ram with an extra 32g of ram. Would this mess up my computer in anyway?

PC: Ryzen 5 3600, 1660 gtx, 16gb corsair vengeance RAM, b450m Motherboard.

 

[Misgar]

I've heard it can cause heat damage over time.

I'm noty sure using 95% of your RAM makes anything much hotter.

I was thinking of mixing my current 16g of ram with an extra 32g of ram.

Some people will tell you it's not a good idea to mix different pairs of DIMMs, because the BIOS may not pick stable timings when faced with two completely differenty pairs.

If you've already got the extra 32GB of RAM, give it a go, but boot the computer from MemTest86+ on USB and run at least one full test suite to check stability (several hours). Any errors and you need to start changing timings manually, then re-test.

With four DIMMs, you may have to reduce any XMP overclocks to make the system stable.

 

[Ralston18]

"Mess up my computer"..... ?

Maybe not directly but problems are likely.

Just because there is more RAM installed does not mean that the RAM will be used.

Memory should only be installed in accordance with the physical RAM and RAM configurations supported by the motherboard.

Some motherboards require that the first physically installed memory stick be placed in a specific slot.

RAM should be installed in kits with modules matched to work together.

Do the following:

Use Task Manager, Resource Monitor to determine what is currently using up RAM.

There may be other issues as well.

 

[geofelt]

Where did you hear "I've heard it can cause heat damage over time" ?

With ram, enough is enough.
Some apps can use ram as a workfile, in that case more is better.

Past that
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
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.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.
Ram must be matched for proper operation.

If you are a fiddler, you might be able to make it work.

 

[SkyNetRising]

it's hitting 95% of my ram constantly, which I've heard isn't bad,
but I've heard it can cause heat damage over time.

Running CPU and/or GPU at 95% will cause elevated temperatures.
This doesn't apply to ram usage.

I was thinking of mixing my current 16g of ram with an extra 32g of ram. Would this mess up my computer in anyway?

Better replace your current 16Gb with 32GB.
That way you will avoid possible memory compatibility issues from mixing multiple ram kits together.

Of course you can try mixing them. But expect DRAM frequency may need to be lowered, to remain stable.
Or it may refuse to work together at all.