[SOLVED] Ram upgrade advice on laptop

Jan 3, 2022
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Please give me advice on upgrading my RAM to 8 GB + 4GB or 4 GB + 4 GB ?

Hello friends, My laptop model is: Toshiba satellite c50 A.

While purchasing it had 500 HDD & 4 GB DDR3 RAM. Also as per its descriptions, it will support RAM up to 16 GB. I also have dual slot of RAM (in one slot, 4 GB is added while purchasing & another slot empty)

Recently I upgraded it by adding SSD & adding another 4 GB RAM in the empty slot. Also that new RAM has similar frequency, clock speed, voltage of the slot 1 RAM.

After this MY PC is working smoothly (I installed new Window 10 latest version OS in the new SSD).

But now I am thinking about replacing the 2nd slot 4 GB RAM with 8 GB RAM (also of same frequency, clock speed, voltage, manufacture). I will add the 8 GB on the 1st slot & 4 GB on the 2nd slot.

My question is, will this 8 GB + 4 GB increase my PC performance more like more multi tasking, boot up speed etc.?

Or I should not do it & keep the 4 GB + 4 GB RAM?

Note
that I will not do these changes myself, rather in the nearest service centers. They do not have knowledge about compatibility issue, thus I am asking here. I search in google, quora ; but got conflicts answer. Some says YES, do it; some says NO, do not do it, it will hinder performance. So I am confused. Plz help..

Links I read are:
  1. https://voltfixer.com/can-you-use-8gb-4gb-ram-together/
  2. https://www.quora.com/Can-I-use-8GB-RAM-together-with-4GB-RAM
  3. https://www.quora.com/I-have-4GB-RA...B-in-the-second-slot-Will-it-perform-smoothly
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Solution
You apparently have two 4gb sticks running in dual channel operation.
You have only two slots so one or both ram sticks will need to be replaced.
If you replace one 4gb with 8gb, you will have 12gb.
That is a plus from a capacity point of view.
That opens up the possibility of issues regarding disparate ram not from the same kit.
The matched 8gb would operate in dual channel mode, and the odd 4gb would operate in slower single channel mode.
That is called flex mode.

My suggestion is to buy a 2 x 8gb matched kit.
Capacity is greater and performance will be better with no issues.

Keep the old two 4gb sticks as backup.
They are not worth the effort to sell.

Lutfij

Titan
Moderator
Are you sure the laptop supports 16GB of ram?

If so then I'd get an 8 + 8 GB off a dual channel ram kit. Can you parse screenshots of what you see on CPU-Z? We can move forward with ram (kit) suggestions. As for the question of why a kit, you're advised to work with a matched set of sticks as opposed to working with mixing and matching sticks of ram, which often times leads to either an unstable system or one that seems slower than before.

In the interim period, make sure your laptop is on the latest BIOS update prior to dropping in the ram upgrade.
 
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logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
It does looks like your system can support 16gb DDR3.

https://il.dynabook.com/contents/en_IL/PRODUCT_DESC/files/1155323.pdf

I would either find a matching 8gb stick, or get a brand new 2x8gb kit. You can use CPU-Z to find the model number, on your ram. Crucial has a tool, to find compatible ram.

 
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Jan 3, 2022
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Yes, I confirm that it support up to 16 GBB ram.
Are you sure the laptop supports 16GB of ram?

If so then I'd get an 8 + 8 GB off a dual channel ram kit. Can you parse screenshots of what you see on CPU-Z? We can move forward with ram (kit) suggestions. As for the question of why a kit, you're advised to work with a matched set of sticks as opposed to working with mixing and matching sticks of ram, which often times leads to either an unstable system or one that seems slower than before.

In the interim period, make sure your laptop is on the latest BIOS update prior to dropping in the ram upgrade.

Yes, I confirm that it support up to 16 GB ram.

Below are the screenshot images:

https://prnt.sc/25u7lv8

https://prnt.sc/25u7nz7

https://prnt.sc/25u7pvk

https://prnt.sc/25u7q5w


Regarding 8+8 GB, I know this will be better/best. But right now, I do not want to waste the other 4 GB, so asking for advice about 4gb + 4 gb or 8 gb + 4 gb. Which will be better.
 
Jan 3, 2022
36
0
40
It does looks like your system can support 16gb DDR3.

https://il.dynabook.com/contents/en_IL/PRODUCT_DESC/files/1155323.pdf

I would either find a matching 8gb stick, or get a brand new 2x8gb kit. You can use CPU-Z to find the model number, on your ram. Crucial has a tool, to find compatible ram.


Regarding 8+8 GB or only 8 GB, I know this will be better/best. But right now, I do not want to waste the other 4 GB, so asking for advice about 4gb + 4 gb or 8 gb + 4 gb.
 
You apparently have two 4gb sticks running in dual channel operation.
You have only two slots so one or both ram sticks will need to be replaced.
If you replace one 4gb with 8gb, you will have 12gb.
That is a plus from a capacity point of view.
That opens up the possibility of issues regarding disparate ram not from the same kit.
The matched 8gb would operate in dual channel mode, and the odd 4gb would operate in slower single channel mode.
That is called flex mode.

My suggestion is to buy a 2 x 8gb matched kit.
Capacity is greater and performance will be better with no issues.

Keep the old two 4gb sticks as backup.
They are not worth the effort to sell.
 
  • Like
Reactions: debdon
Solution
Please give me advice on upgrading my RAM to 8 GB + 4GB or 4 GB + 4 GB ?

Hello friends, My laptop model is: Toshiba satellite c50 A.

While purchasing it had 500 HDD & 4 GB DDR3 RAM. Also as per its descriptions, it will support RAM up to 16 GB. I also have dual slot of RAM (in one slot, 4 GB is added while purchasing & another slot empty)

Recently I upgraded it by adding SSD & adding another 4 GB RAM in the empty slot. Also that new RAM has similar frequency, clock speed, voltage of the slot 1 RAM.

After this MY PC is working smoothly (I installed new Window 10 latest version OS in the new SSD).

But now I am thinking about replacing the 2nd slot 4 GB RAM with 8 GB RAM (also of same frequency, clock speed, voltage, manufacture). I will add the 8 GB on the 1st slot & 4 GB on the 2nd slot.

My question is, will this 8 GB + 4 GB increase my PC performance more like more multi tasking, boot up speed etc.?

Or I should not do it & keep the 4 GB + 4 GB RAM?

Note
that I will not do these changes myself, rather in the nearest service centers. They do not have knowledge about compatibility issue, thus I am asking here. I search in google, quora ; but got conflicts answer. Some says YES, do it; some says NO, do not do it, it will hinder performance. So I am confused. Plz help..

Links I read are:
  1. https://voltfixer.com/can-you-use-8gb-4gb-ram-together/
  2. https://www.quora.com/Can-I-use-8GB-RAM-together-with-4GB-RAM
  3. https://www.quora.com/I-have-4GB-RA...B-in-the-second-slot-Will-it-perform-smoothly
You have 4+4 in the machine now......8GB in dual channel.
Does your ram usage when you run your stuff push up near 8Gb.
If yes then expand the ram to a 2x8GB kit.
If no then adding ram won't help as your not using all the ram you have now.

As for a 4 and a 8GB in theory you will get 8GB in dual channel and 4GB in single channel.
I suppose that will give a bump over 8GB in dual channel if your using all the ram.
 
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Reactions: debdon

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
You apparently have two 4gb sticks running in dual channel operation.
You have only two slots so one or both ram sticks will need to be replaced.
If you replace one 4gb with 8gb, you will have 12gb.
That is a plus from a capacity point of view.
That opens up the possibility of issues regarding disparate ram not from the same kit.
The matched 8gb would operate in dual channel mode, and the odd 4gb would operate in slower single channel mode.
That is called flex mode.

My suggestion is to buy a 2 x 8gb matched kit.
Capacity is greater and performance will be better with no issues.

Keep the old two 4gb sticks as backup.
They are not worth the effort to sell.

I missed that they had a second stick already added. Good catch
 
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Reactions: debdon
Jan 3, 2022
36
0
40
Thanks everyone for replay. I have also made similar thread in other forums. Most advised, not to use 8gb+4gb; rather 4+4 or 8 +8. Also someone told me that there is not much difference in 12 gb vs 8 gb ram.

So I decided to stick to my 4+4 gb now. Cancelling my plan of 8 gb + 4 gb.

Thanks everyone again for your valuable suggestions.