Mixing Dual Channel with Single Channel

[marcooli0]

So right now I've got 2x2GB 1600mhz AMD Radeon Performance RAM but I really want to upgrade in the very near future.

Unfortunately, options are limited for my brand but I discovered this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820403003&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Desktop+Memory-_-N82E16820403003&gclid=CIjS8oySv7kCFexDMgodYikAeg

It's technically single channel, so I'd have three sticks in my computer instead of two or four.

Is this a bad idea to mix the two or can I go ahead and buy it?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

You will lose between 4% and 7% in performance. You will gain the extra RAM. If what you are doing makes you run out of RAM then you are better off losing performance and adding the extra RAM. Unless you are editing huge photo or video files or running a multiple VM environment you will not need over 8GB. Single channel is not much of a performance loss but unless you need the RAM more than the speed there is no reason to do it.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

I just noticed you only have 4GB not 8GB. Don't get caught up with the AMD brand that's all it is, a brand. Go with 2 x 4GB sticks if you can. Just find something cheap. GSkill, Corsair, Crucial etc. The only brand I would avoid is Kingston.

Or what would be best and allow you to keep what you have is to add another 2 x 2GB or 2 x 4GB kit of what you have. Make sure it's identical for compatibility.

 

[Tradesman1]

Best to go for a 3x4GB set that way you have 8GB of DRAM that will work

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Best to go for a 3x4GB set that way you have 8GB of DRAM that will work

4 x 3 = 12 😉

 

[Tradesman1]

Typo, my bad, sorry, meant 2x4GB