[SOLVED] Mixing RAM sizes

iSkawt · 10-11-2007, 08:55 PM

This is probably an extremely stupid question, but I figure it's best to be sure before I go and buy anything. Is it a bad thing to put 2 different sized ram sticks in your your computer, i.e. having a 1GB and 2GB stick making a total of 3GB? I always thought it was best practice to keep each of your RAM sticks exactly the same.

**blackduck30** · 10-11-2007, 09:54 PM

as far as i know if you have dual channel memory capabilities you have to have the same size ram in that channel for the dual channel function to work. eg. channel 1 has to have same size as does channel 2. ( each channel has 2 slots usually color matched to identify ).
If you have different sizes on one channel I doubt you are functioning in dual channel mode which will be robbing you of performance.
From what I have seen you can have say 2X1G sticks in the first channel and say 2X2G sticks in the second channel and still be able to function in dual channel mode

iSkawt · 10-12-2007, 12:26 AM

Makes sense - Thanks

10-11-2007, 08:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
iSkawt Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 54 OS: Vista HP	[SOLVED] Mixing RAM sizes This is probably an extremely stupid question, but I figure it's best to be sure before I go and buy anything. Is it a bad thing to put 2 different sized ram sticks in your your computer, i.e. having a 1GB and 2GB stick making a total of 3GB? I always thought it was best practice to keep each of your RAM sticks exactly the same.

10-11-2007, 09:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Mixing RAM sizes as far as i know if you have dual channel memory capabilities you have to have the same size ram in that channel for the dual channel function to work. eg. channel 1 has to have same size as does channel 2. ( each channel has 2 slots usually color matched to identify ). If you have different sizes on one channel I doubt you are functioning in dual channel mode which will be robbing you of performance. From what I have seen you can have say 2X1G sticks in the first channel and say 2X2G sticks in the second channel and still be able to function in dual channel mode __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

10-12-2007, 12:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
iSkawt Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 54 OS: Vista HP	Re: Mixing RAM sizes Makes sense - Thanks