I am upgrading ram and cpu. Right now I have 8gb (2x4gb) but am either gonna add 2 more 4gb sticks or buy 2 8gb sticks. I really dont know much when it comes to this stuff. Can I run 2 4gb and and 2 8gb (for a total of 24gb) or would I just repalce the 2 4s with the 2 8s if I go that route?
As for CPU I am currently running an AMD Athlon 200GE 3.2GHz Dual-Core. It ran WOW fine but not this. I have narrowed it down to 3 options, unless you can recommend a better one. Im trying to keep CPU under $200. I am looking at either the Ryzen 3 3100 3.6 GHZ Quad-Core, the Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core, or the Ryzen 5 2600 3.4GHz 6-Core.
1600/2600 is fine upgrade around 200$, you can use the two 8gb and two 4gb together yea, but you need to pair them correctly, meaning the two 8gb should be in the specified channels per the motherboard manual (if i recall the thread was b450 pro4 motherboard?), if thats the case it would be two 8gb in a2/b2, and then the two 4gb in a1/b1. If you get a higher frequency set of ram for the new 8gb sticks, it could be potentially downclocked to the lowest timing of your other two 4gb sticks, so its probably ideal to get the same frequency ram, and if possible same manufacturer, although this is not necessary. I've mixed different brand/frequency ram without issues, aside from the lowest frequency underclock i mentioned.
if you are running two 4gb-2400 mhz ram for example, you will set two 8gb 2400 mhz ram into priority channels, where your current ram sticks should be, then the old two 4gb-2400 mhz sticks into the alternate channels.