cpu - Adding Extra 4GB Memory Module to 2X2GB

07
2014-07
  • coolman

    Can i add a 4GB Ram Module to my Intel P55 Chipset Motherboard which already has 2X2GB Modules(4GB).Will this cause any issues like timing problem?

    UPDATE: I have an intel DP55WB Board,it supports 16GB Ram.I have inserted two 2gb Sticks into Channel A DIMM0 and Channel B DIMMO.The 2 DIMM1 Slots are remaining.

    • Answers
  • Fazer87

    The short answer is that this should be fine and will work.

    RAM will always work at the slowest component speed - so bear in mind that if you have 2*2GB(1600MHz) and 1*4GB(800MHz) - your RAM will all slow down to 800mhz, but you will still have 8GB of perfectly useable RAM.

    Doing this will give a performance impact - but only a miniscule one which is far outweighed by massive performance increase of doubling your RAM.

    Before you go purchasing, make sure you actually have a spare slot to stick the RAM in as well - I've seen people go out and buy, only to realise they didnt have a slot. In your case, this would give 2GB+4GB=6GB, so you would still have an increase, but not as much as you hopes for.

    Also, lastly, remember that if you are running windows x86 (32-bit) - you are limited by the OS to 4GB RAM, so you will need to install a 64-bit OS to get usage out of your RAM.

    Hope this helps.


    • Related Question

    dearth of 4GB DDR2 800 memory modules: performance disadvantage?
  • Stephen

    I notice there are very few single 4GB DDR2800 chips available vs. 4GB in 2x2GB format. Why is this? I want to go up from 8GB on my LGA775 system to increase memory available on my virtual machines: I like to have a Win32 and Centos box running while consuming only half my available RAM.

    Is the lack of single 4GB modules on the market a reflection on lack of demand, or is there a technical reason why one would not want to install 12GB or more on their PC?


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  • AndrejaKo

    The problem is that 4 GiB modules are very expensive to manufacture using technology used for manufacture of DDR2 chips and at the time they were new, such density of RAM was considered very large for home computers, so they weren't developed. By the time they became interesting, DDR3 became new standard and it's much easier to manufacture DDR3 chips o such density than it is for DDR2 chips.

    Another thing that comes to mind is chipset and motherboard compatibility. Back when DDR2 was young, many chipsets and motherboards didn't support high density chips.

    EDIT I'm assuming that you mean DDR2 800 modules. Never heard of DDR2800.