I have a pc with 16 gb Ram. (2 sticks @8gb each ) / I purchases 32gb more. (2 sticks @ 16gb each) Can I use all the Ram (4sticks) together making it a total of 48gb of Ram? I don’t se the number 48gb discussed on the web much, it jumps from 16 gb to 32gb and then to 64gb? Is it OK to be using an odd number like 48gb ?
as long as your MB supports above 32gb ram, then yes. NOTE, that no matter the speed of your FASTEST ram, it will ALWAYS run as quick as your SLOWEST ram. it is advised to match ram, but its no determent.
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I’ve done just that.
Both sets were the same make and model, apart from the capacity, but i was still concerned that they might not work together. That’s why i bought a 32gb kit, as i could have made do with that, had there been an issue.
Of course, even though mine worked, i cannot guarantee that yours will, but 48GB is definitely a valid configuration.
So long as the ram within the matched pairs are the same specs you should be fine.
In the bad old days of DDR2 you would have to be a lot more careful but DDR4 is much more tolerant. You can even at a pinch use different brands of ram of similar specs in dual channel mode with DDR4 which would have crashed your system with DDR2.
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yup, i had a Gigabyte Mobo once, that i bought with 2 kits of 2x8gb RAM. They were the same make and same spec, but they just would not work together.
By moving them around and trying them in different slots, i discounted any chance of a dodgy stick(s) or RAM slots on the Mobo.
The supplier told me i should have bought 1 kit of 4 sticks.
nm, i just used 2 and my son made use of the other 2 sticks. We later found out that his mobo wouldn’t take both sets either. It might have been an issue with having all 4 slots occupied, rather than a RAM timing issue, but i suspect the issue has now been designed out of mobos.
regarding the mixing of ram: Don’t. Your wallet may hate you but it’s worth shelling out for same make and model of RAM. Exact match only. getting 1 pack of 4 sticks is still as much a gamble as getting 2 packs of 2. You can often save yourself $10-20 by getting 2 packs of 2.
Simply put: your computer will take the slowest stick and set that across all the modules. not to mention a myriad of other issues that come associated with mixed RAM modules. Some people can do it and not have an issue. Others do it and they brick their motherboard. These are things that can happen to anyone, so don’t worry. As long as your handle your computer parts with care and be sure your hands are dry (i had to buy a new mobo as a result of a minisule drop of sweat on my finger)
Regarding 2 slots or 4: This will always be an ongoing debate regarding performance of 2 slots over 4. my belief is you can achieve faster clock speeds with dual slot over quad, spoken from experience. I used to be able to run 3200mhz at 2x8gb. I have 4x8gb (all matching modules) and can only run 2966mhz before my system decides crashing is a regular process. Again, this is highly debated due to the amount of configurations are on the market.
Your supplier is just trying to get your money. While valid, i feel like this is just to sucker you into spending another $200 on RAM you don’t need. This is an issue with IT because suppliers, resellers and repair shops will prey on the ignorant. Not speaking to you specifically but i’ve worked in the industry long enough to see.
I did wonder at the time and subsequent research did appear to suggest that it was probably more likely to be an issue with having all 4 slots filled, possibly combined with running them all on XMP, rather than a RAM timing issue.
Either way, i didn’t buy any more and we did make use of the RAM that I’d bought so no biggy.
Nonsense, a RAM upgrade will never brick a motherboard. The most likely cause would be ESD damage, but the RAM itself won’t even break a motherboard. A miniscule drop of sweat also sounds very unlikely to break anything. I’ve never broken RAM or a motherboard in 22 years of computer building.
Use ESD protection and reasonable precautions (don’t wear wool, don’t work on carpet etc) and it’ll be fine.
A ram upgrade could brick your computer if you don’t know what you’re doing lol.
Congratulations. Do you want a cookie or a medal? Now i know how all the people feel when they get a CTD and people say “What are you talking about i don’t have any issues” (even though i’m in the latter group lol)
You made it sound as if incompatible RAM combinations can break a motherboard, though, which is what I based the reply on. Needless to say carelessness or inexperience can make a person damage something, but that’s a different issue altogether.
no no no no no. Just providing an overly extreme example. The RAM itself has to be a flat out bad module for it to really break a motherboard. I mean it has to be really bad like maybe black and crispy fried lol
Don’t use RAM modules if they look like this^
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Thanks for all the replies folks. I guess it comes down to an individual choice. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t . Nothing in Life is Guaranteed 
Yep.
Also more often than not, unless your benchmarking, having more ram trumps using slightly faster ram if you end up with less of it. Especially for Intel processors which care far less about ram speed and in a game like this where many people even report an upgrade from 32Gb to 64Gb is worthwhile if you are using accelerated time.
In the end though we can theory craft all we like, the best bet is try different options and see what performs best in game.