16 or 24GB of RAM available
16 or 24GB of RAM available
I bought a 2x8GB 3200MHz system since one 8GB stick wasn’t sufficient. I’m wondering if it’s worth upgrading to three 8GB sticks at 2666MHz instead of two at 3200MHz. My new RAM is crucial Ballistix 3200MHz 8GB, and my old one was Ballistix Sport LT 2666MHz 8GB. Appreciate your time!
Having more RAM speeds things up only when you utilize it properly. When you exceed 16GB and RAM utilization is high, 24GB at 2666MHz performs better since the page file isn’t needed. In such cases, opt for higher clock speeds instead.
I believe the number of sticks affects performance differently based on your configuration. If your system uses two sticks in dual-channel mode (similar to RAID for RAM), adding a third stick might stop that functionality and cut your bandwidth roughly in half. I run 16GB without noticeable problems, but as mentioned before, results vary depending on usage and purpose.
Despite being from the same brand, mixing RAM has often been an uncertain experience—sometimes it functions, other times it fails. For consistency, I’d go with two sticks rated at 3200MHz. If you require additional memory, purchase another set with the identical model number as your existing one.
It’s a good idea to test both options and compare results. The main limitation here is time. Since you already have both types of RAM, the performance difference will mainly depend on how quickly each works. In the worst scenario it might lag slightly, but in the best case you could gain extra memory for your needs.
CPU is the processor that handles calculations, while the motherboard connects all components of a computer.