Question Using very old desktop RAM along with more recent Gaming RAM on my PC.

[Hittos]

So here's the situation :

- I actually have a gaming PC running with a set of 2x4GB RAM sticks (the current ones i'm using : https://findhard.ru/en/rams/model?id=1493&m=corsair-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9).
- Since i'm cheap, i had the idea of using a RAM stick from a very old PC of mine, after i remembered it runs on DDR3. (the one from the older PC : https://findhard.ru/en/rams/model?id=3215&m=silicon-power-sp004gbvtu160n02)

I went and did my research, checked the frequency / voltage / size, they all match, but i still have some strong doubts, and since i'm not a specialist in the matter, i always have that small fear that it will cause something horribly bad to my hardware.

So, will those match? Will i see any increase in my PC performances? Is there a any risk that it will do anything bad to my hardware?

(Bonus question : i went and checked the speed of my actual RAM on the task manager, in every description i found on the internet, it says the frequency is 1600 MHz, the task manager shows 1333 MHz, if somebody could also explain why, it would be great)

Awaiting for your answers, than you in advance for the help.

 

[SkyNetRising]

So, will those match? Will i see any increase in my PC performances? Is there a any risk that it will do anything bad to my hardware?

Try it.
You won't know, until you have tried it.

i went and checked the speed of my actual RAM on the task manager, in every description i found on the internet, it says the frequency is 1600 MHz, the task manager shows 1333 MHz, if somebody could also explain why, it would be great)

Task Manager is not a reliable way for checking ram speed.
Use CPU-Z, check memory and spd sections. Show screenshots.
(upload screenshots to imgur.comm and post link)

Also list model name of your cpu and motherboard. This info can be obtained from CPU-Z also - cpu and motherboard sections.
Your motherboard may not support ram overclocking.

https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

 

[Hittos]

First, thank you for your answer.

Also list model name of your cpu and motherboard. This info can be obtained from CPU-Z also - cpu and motherboard sections.
Your motherboard may not support ram overclocking.

CPU : i5 4590T.
Motherboard : Asrock Z87 Extreme3.

Ram :

https://imgur.com/a/wHKWeQc

SPD :

https://imgur.com/a/2EORwB8

View: https://imgur.com/a/2EORwB8

View: https://imgur.com/a/wHKWeQc

Also, do you recommend any way to monitor the performance and see if my PC performs better with the 4gb old ram added. (I didn't do it yet, i wanted to be 100% sure it won't cause any unwanted results)

 

[SkyNetRising]

CPU : i5 4590T.
Motherboard : Asrock Z87 Extreme3.

Motherboard supports ram overclocking.
Your ram is running at 1333mhz in single channel mode.
You have installed ram modules in wrong ram slots.
For two module configuration you have to use slots A2 and B2 (2nd and 4th counting from cpu).

 

[Hittos]

Motherboard supports ram overclocking.
Your ram is running at 1333mhz in single channel mode.
You have installed ram modules in wrong ram slots.
For two module configuration you have to use slots A2 and B2 (2nd and 4th counting from cpu).

Ok, thank you.

If i decide to install the old RAM, in which slot do you recommend i put it?

 

[35below0]

Take a look at the motherboard manual. It will probably have something to say about memory limits.

About the only bad thing that can happen is that RAM works slower because of mixed RAM kits, or the new RAM doesn't work at all because it's not supported.
So you might waste some money unless you research memory compatibility.

 

[SkyNetRising]

If i decide to install the old RAM, in which slot do you recommend i put it?

For 2 module config use A2 and B2.
For 4 module config (2 modules from one kit and 2 modules from a different kit) use
one kit in A1, A2, the other kit in B1, B2.

 

[Hittos]

For 2 module config use A2 and B2.
For 4 module config (2 modules from one kit and 2 modules from a different kit) use
one kit in A1, A2, the other kit in B1, B2.

Thanks again.

So i guess, since i have only the old 1x4GB ram to add, i don't need to change the slots of the my current RAM sticks, just to add the new one in B1.

 

[SkyNetRising]

So i guess, since i have only the old 1x4GB ram to add, i don't need to change the slots of the my current RAM sticks, just to add the new one in B1.

Doesn't matter then.
Dual channel mode requires ram modules in pairs. With 3 modules you'll still be on single channel mode
(or flex mode, if supported by the board).

 

[Hittos]

Doesn't matter then.
Dual channel mode requires ram modules in pairs. With 3 modules you'll still be on single channel mode
(or flex mode, if supported by the board).

Thank you so much for the help & shared knowledge, it's been really useful @SkyNetRising

Just in case somebody's curious : the final outcome was kinda positive.

The old ramstick worked fine : some programs take a bit more time to launch, but i don't get any lagspikes/PC freezes anymore, moreover, i saw an FPS increase in some of the games i play.