Low budget upgrade options

Aug 20, 2018
2
0
10
I started using VirtualBox on my current system and need to run 3 or 4 machines but I have noticed that my system ain't up to the task and slows to a crawl.

System: B250 Mortar - i3 7100 - 8Gb vengeance RAM - 256 Crucial SSD

Do I need to upgrade everything or will incremental upgrade path be OK?

TIA
 
8gb seems to me to be a bit small for several Virtual machines.
I don't know about how low of a budget you have.

If you want 16gb, consider.


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.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.

If you do buy more disparate sticks, they must be the same speed, voltage and cas numbers.
Even then your chances of working are less than 100%

What is your plan "B" if the new stick/s do not work?

Sometimes increasing the ram voltage in the bios will make things work.

If you want 16gb, my suggestion is to buy a 2 x 8gb kit that matches your current specs.
Then, try adding in your old 8gb,
If it works, good; you now have extra ram.
If not, sell the old ram or keep it as a spare.