Using identical power supply, settings and timing, yet varying RAM capacity.
Using identical power supply, settings and timing, yet varying RAM capacity.
Hello, I faced a situation when RAM was expensive. I bought a set of two 4GB DDR4 sticks at 85€ each (Crucial Ballistix Sport LT BLS2K4G4D240FSB 2400 MHz) and managed to boost their speed to 2999MHz. I’m considering the single 8GB stick (Crucial Ballistix Sport LT BLS8G4D240FSCK 2400 MHz) priced at 30€. Because it’s from the same brand, with identical timings and voltage, I think I can run it smoothly without issues. I expect a slight drop in performance if I add more sticks, but having double the memory might help offset that. I’ve had some trouble with games like Final Fantasy XV on 8GB RAM, so I’m cautious. My CPU is an i5 8400 and the motherboard is Gigabyte Z370P D3.
It's unclear why extra storage would add that much cost, especially since it seems unusual.
Most boards will default to single channel if it sees an odd number of sticks.
Compatibility shouldn't be an issue. Memory will remain dual for the 8GB @ 2x4 and single when using different 8GB sticks, with resources from other sticks. Running RAM in this setting might lead to more stutters than expected, though I haven't tested it personally. All memory speeds will stay consistent, so you won't see one running at a specific MHz or CAS latency while others differ. Personally, I've used Patriot Viper 2x8GB at 2133MHz CL14 and 2x8GB V-Color Skywalker at 3600MHz CL18, achieving around 4x8GB with 2666MHz CL18 across all sticks.
I've tested a DDR3 setup with two 4GB modules and one 8GB module for years without problems, and experienced many DDR2 systems with unusual setups too. Of course, this is just personal experience, but most users have reported running various RAM types smoothly.
It seems like you're considering a trial approach. I'll keep that in mind. I'll share the outcomes once you provide the results. Don't worry about missing similar discussions—just let me know what you found!
Hello, I received the 8GB RAM stick today and completed three tests: Heaven Benchmark 4.0, 3dMark Time Spy, and Forza Horizon 4. I took photos with my phone because the device often crashes and I didn’t want to risk anything. Here are the outcomes: two 4GB sticks in slots DDR4 1 and DDR4 2; Heaven Benchmark 4.0 Firemark 3D Time Spy Forza Horizon 4; two 8GB sticks in slot DDR4 3 and DDR2 plus one 8GB stick in slot DDR4. The results aren’t great, but that’s the situation.