Upgrading to 12gb worth it?

[SkyHawksGamers]

Hey! I have had 8GB of Patriot RAM in my PC for the past few years. I play games and edit frequently, although my RAM usage hardly ever maxes out (though it does on GTA V, as it has a memory leak).

I wanted to know whether you would advise upgrading to 12GB. I am upgrading my GPU soon and figured I may as well do it at the same time. I won't be able to go to 16 because my 212 EVO is covering one of the RAM slots (small case).

Thanks!

 

[kawininjazx]

If it's gonna break the dual channel mode of your memory I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Not really no. Unless you are seeing performance issues or getting out of memory errors, why bother.

 

[inerax]

12gb would help with GTA but if it does not max out any other time you wont notice much difference. I personally run 16gb and it works great.

Do you have 2x4gb now? You could move to 2x8gb to double your ram keeping dual channel.

 

[SkyHawksGamers]

If it's gonna break the dual channel mode of your memory I wouldn't mess with it.

Is using three channels problematic then? Thanks.

 

[SkyHawksGamers]

Do you have 2x4gb now? You could move to 2x8gb to double your ram keeping dual channel.

I do, and I've thought about this but it would be much easier and cheaper to utilise the third channel with another 4GB stick.

 

[Rogue Leader]

If it's gonna break the dual channel mode of your memory I wouldn't mess with it.

Is using three channels problematic then? Thanks.

Do you have 2x4gb now? You could move to 2x8gb to double your ram keeping dual channel.

I do, and I've thought about this but it would be much easier and cheaper to utilise the third channel with another 4GB stick.

3 channel mode doesn't exist (well except for on an older processor/chipset, but likely not what you have), your system is only dual channel. The problem with adding a 3rd ram DIMM is it will "break" dual channel mode because of the different sizes in each channel and make it work in single channel which is slower. Its why ram should always be added in pairs.

 

[SkyHawksGamers]

If it's gonna break the dual channel mode of your memory I wouldn't mess with it.

Is using three channels problematic then? Thanks.

Do you have 2x4gb now? You could move to 2x8gb to double your ram keeping dual channel.

I do, and I've thought about this but it would be much easier and cheaper to utilise the third channel with another 4GB stick.

3 channel mode doesn't exist (well except for on an older processor/chipset, but likely not what you have), your system is only dual channel. The problem with adding a 3rd ram DIMM is it will "break" dual channel mode because of the different sizes in each channel and make it work in single channel which is slower. Its why ram should always be added in pairs.

Ah, I see. Thank you very much! I apologise for my RAM ignorance. I will probably stick with 8GB then

 

[Rogue Leader]

If you want to upgrade and a ram slot is blocked your best bet would be to buy a 2x8gb set giving you 16gb and just replace your old ram.