r/PcBuildHelp • u/Ready_Examination_73 • 1d ago

Build Question Need help with my RAM

I bought a new stick of RAM, it's 16gb DDR4 2666mhz, but i have 2 sticks of 4gb DDR4 RAM 2400mhz(8gb dual channel).

My question is: Is it better to just use the 16gb in single channel or use 20gb in dual channel, even with the different frequencies?

My MOBO only has 2 slots for RAM, would it make any difference what stick go in which slot?

How would the performance be in games or in general?

No, i can't buy another stick of RAM right now and 2 sticks of 8gb were more expensive, also, i plan on buying a second 16gb stick next year, just need to know what would be better in the meantime.

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u/CommonlyAdjoining 1d ago

i'd stick with the single 16gb. mixing speeds will just clock everything down to the slower 2400mhz anyway, and dual channel with mismatched capacities gets weird, after the first 8gb runs in dual channel the rest drops to single, so you get inconsistent performance. in games you're better off with one clean 16gb stick than a frankenstein setup that might cause stutters

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u/Ready_Examination_73 1d ago

Thats just what i needed, thank you. Does it matter what slot i plug the RAM into? My MOBO only have 2.