16Gb to 20Gb worth it?

Ease · 15 Feb 2013 at 20:10

So I have two stick of 8gb in my machine at the moment, but I stumbled across two 2gb sticks the other day of an identical speed (although different make) and was wondering if throwing them in too might affect performance negatively?

Minstadave · 15 Feb 2013 at 20:12

What do you use your PC for?

Something Else · 15 Feb 2013 at 20:56

no you wont need them. im going out on a limb here and im gonna say anyone with an i3 2120 doesnt even need 16gb

johnerz · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:37

Whilst I agree, putting the extra 4GB in will not degrade the system in any way and as its not doing anything else.......................................

Gibbo3771 · 21 Feb 2013 at 10:35

Presuming with your sig, you are running a mid range gaming setup. 20GB RAM is not going to make a difference over 16, hell 16 barely makes a difference over 8 unless you are running multiple games at a time.

Ease · 21 Feb 2013 at 12:41

I'm a software developer, and quite often have a lot of memory-greedy 'applications' compiling or testing all at the same time, so I'm really appreciating having 16Gb at the moment. That said, I've not breached 12Gb of that yet (that I've noticed at least), so I definitely don't need 20Gb, but I've got the sticks lying around and they're barely worth selling at the moment, so the only reason not to chuck them in this machine is any risk of performance degradation.

<edit>Unless anyone in the Cornwall-area wants to come pick them up in exchange for a can of beer?

</edit>

8 Pack · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:01

Stay with your current config. Total waste of time that!!!

stuie · 21 Feb 2013 at 13:14

compiling programs on a 3gig dual core i3? you must have the patience of a saint, however no it wont make any difference and it could slow things down depending on the ratings of the memory, if your current stuff runs at 1600 slapping some 1333 stuff in would make things slower

Gibbo3771 · 22 Feb 2013 at 10:02

Should drop an i7 3770 in that board

, now that would be a massive performance increase for what you do.

paradigm · 22 Feb 2013 at 10:11

8 Pack said:
Stay with your current config. Total waste of time that!!!

Now, I know you are performance oriented, and a bench-a-holic, but seriously, you can't just blanket state that as fact.

If he has the ability to use up the extra RAM, then of course it's worth adding to the system.

yasen78 · 22 Feb 2013 at 11:49

Better sell these 4 GB RAM and use the money for a better upgrade. Adding 4GB to your 16GB will not make you any good really.

Unless you run a lot of VM or you do photo editing wiht huge images, etc. where you may actually benefit the extra RAM.

Vertiginous · 22 Feb 2013 at 14:18

Meh, listen to them all, 20Gb just looks cool

KaiserDJG · 22 Feb 2013 at 15:07

It won't degrade your system but keeping them just in case some others fail wouldent hurt either.

Sin_Chase · 22 Feb 2013 at 15:18

Not worth it unless you absolutely need the extra headroom 4GB provides.

Just asking for issues with different manufacturers.

Crezzlin · 22 Feb 2013 at 15:22

You could use them to setup a 6Gb Ram disk? Then have the 12Gb dress still.

paradigm · 22 Feb 2013 at 17:25

Sin_Chase said:
Just asking for issues with different manufacturers.

Lolwut? It will be fine, absolutely and categorically.

JasonM · 23 Feb 2013 at 23:46

Install the memory, if system runs as before without effecting other memory leave them in.

Memory is memory, better it installed in your PC then sitting on a shelf!

Mr-White · 23 Feb 2013 at 23:51

Install as much memory as you can, women love it !!!

MW

Surveyor · 24 Feb 2013 at 01:36

paradigm said:
Lolwut? It will be fine, absolutely and categorically.

Lolwut? There's usually no difficulty running different manufacturer's RAM together but it won't absolutely and categorically be fine.

OP what OS are you using?

You need certain versions of Windows to use more than 16GB.

Sharkboy · 24 Feb 2013 at 04:59

Waste of money having so much ram but it's something you brag about I guess.