Solved Best way to upgrade from a x 4gb ram

[ididntdoit]

First of all not sure if this is the correct section.
I have googled and get results but are not answering it for me and I just want to speak to some one.

Its a dell inspiron 3470 with 2 slots but only x1- 4 gb stick.
would I see better results if I just added a matching 4 gb stick to get to 8gb or would it be better to add an 8gb stick to get to 12gb.
I read stuff about running dual channel and don't understand.
Is it a case that a x2 - 4gb stick will run as a dual channel but a miss-matched 4 and 8 gig will each only run at a single channel. ? so the difference will be minimal so may as well just get 1 4 GB stick to upgrade.

I dont want to go to the cost of 16gb as its not my PC - its the inlaws !!!!

Its a 4 gb DD4-2666 (1333MHz) Micron in there now.
And I should add that they are running win 10

 

[Megahertz07]

With only one memory stick it will run in single channel. With two identical memory sticks it will run in dual channel.
I suggest you download and run HWinfo, extract and run.
On the memory description you're going to see the code of the existing stick.
Search the internet for this code. Buy a memory stick with same code (module part number).

 

[ididntdoit]

Thanks for your help.
Problem is that I am doing this remotely and the in laws are elderly so there is no chance of using that program. But I did already install CPU-Z on their pc so I could get them to run that and send me a screen shot.

So is it correct that if I had a 4gb in one and a 8gb in the other then they would both just run as single channel. But If I got a matching pair of 4gb (total 8 ) then they would run as a dual channel AND potentially be faster than a 4 + 8 total 12

- - - Updated - - -

I did manage to coach them over the phone to run the crucial compatibility ram test and I have the results from that.

 

[strollin]

Is the PC running the 64-bit version of Win 7? If not, it would be a waste to upgrade to 8GB of ram since 32-bit windows can only utilize a little less than 4GB (something like 3.8).

 

[ididntdoit]

Thanks for your help, it is x64 and actually they are running win10.
As I am buying the ram for them I am trying not to spend too much which is why I am only looking at adding 4 or 8gb max.
Its a Dell inspiron 3470

- - - Updated - - -

- - Updated - - -

I now have the part number as read from cpu-z
micron 4atf51264az-2g6j1
But can not find it. Micron is crucial make isnt it ?

 

[flavallee]

Dell Inspiron 3470 Desktop PC (support site)

It originally comes with Windows 10 64-bit.

It has 2 slots and supports up to 32 GB(16 GB x 2) of DDR4-2666 MHz RAM.

It looks like your in-laws has only 4 GB(4 GB x 1) of DDR4-2666 MHz RAM, so it definitely needs more.

Adding another 4 GB DDR4-2666 MHz module in the empty slot will probably suffice.

 

[ididntdoit]

Thanks for that help flavallee.

So my basic question is which would provide the biggest boost to the current 4gb config,
Adding another 4gb to match = 8gb
Or adding a single 8gb =12gb

 

[Megahertz07]

If you don't want to have RAM issues, buy same brand, same chipset, same speeds.

To be able to run in dual channel depends on the BIOS, and CPU.
If you have 4+4 all 8G will run in dual channel
If you have 4+8, (4+(8-4))=8G will run in dual channel and the last 4 G will run in single channel. That is the optimal, not a rule. It can run all (4+8) in single channel.
I use CAD programs and never seen it using more than 6G. If I were you I would buy another 4G stick.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=4atf51264az-2g6j1&_sacat=0&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=3

 

[ididntdoit]

Thanks for the channel info I understand now. this bit cleared it up a lot for me.
If you have 4+8, (4+(8-4))=8G will run in dual channel and the last 4 G will run in single channel.

But as you say it may not work that way and I may end up with the 4gb and 8gb slots only working as a single channel. But if that was the case would a 4+8 both working as a single channel still be better than a 4+4 working as a dual channel

 

[townsbg]

I am of the opinion not to buy excess ram just to max it out however you have to have enough for everyday tasks otherwise your computer ends up using virtual memory which is slower than real memory (even with an SSD). So if they regularly run 6 gb worth of processes an upgrade to 8 gb would be beneficial but 12 won't be especially if you lost the dual channeling capability. If they run 10 gb of processes then you would need 12 gb. FYI here are the memory specs: https://www.dell.com/support/manual...3dfc36-ee18-4622-9705-bc910d16fee0&lang=en-us.

 

[ididntdoit]

Thanks for your thoughts townsbg.
I think they will only be needing an extra 4gb after what yourself and others have said.