Installing new RAM, I just want a simple answer.

The VCR King

Well-Known Member
I'm adding another stick of RAM to my computer. When the computer is shut off and I put in the RAM, do I just start the machine back up and it detects the new ram? As in, "plug-and-play"? Yes or no?
 

salvage-this

Active Member
Yes. For best performance it would be best to add another set of identical modules to what you have. At least try to get another dual channel kit to go in the other DIMM slots. If you add one stick it will take all of the RAM in the system down to single channel performance.
 

beers

Moderator
Staff member
Yes.

The above for single channel is erroneous. You could add an 8 GB DIMM and have balanced capacities for each channel, or if you added some other unbalanced capacity it would interleave between channels. This would give you slightly less consistent performance but it wouldn't be straight up single channel.
 

The VCR King

Well-Known Member
I bought a 4GB stick of PNY DDR3 today and installed it. I now got 12GB of ram!
p2eU3vv.jpg
 

ScottALot

Active Member
umm is that a good thing or not...? :(

45% usage of RAM is not bad. Your computer is intelligent enough to use an appropriate amount of RAM that promotes good performance and has enough leftover capacity for sudden bumps in RAM usage. If you're noticing like 75% usage and your computer is sluggish, then yeah, you should upgrade... but in your situation, you were fine.

Add to that the fact that you are now mixing dual-channel and single-channel... you've very likely hampered your performance in that "upgrade"
 

The VCR King

Well-Known Member
45% usage of RAM is not bad. Your computer is intelligent enough to use an appropriate amount of RAM that promotes good performance and has enough leftover capacity for sudden bumps in RAM usage. If you're noticing like 75% usage and your computer is sluggish, then yeah, you should upgrade... but in your situation, you were fine.

Add to that the fact that you are now mixing dual-channel and single-channel... you've very likely hampered your performance in that "upgrade"

Im actually noticing a good increase in performance.

Now, this topic is over with, someone please lock this. :cool:
 
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