Need more RAM

[AaLF]

Sorry to burden you guys with a mundane question but I'm Hardware illiterate.

My wife's PC is constantly running @ 80-90% RAM capacity. I think it needs more grunt.

The MB is Gygabyte GA-277x-D3H & there is one stick of 8Gb RAM * WIN7 x 64. I dare not touch the RAM stick just in case I zapp it.

BUT.... due to location in australia i need to order in via eBay etc. No shop close by.

QUESTIONS:

1. Exactly what type of RAM do I need? A second 8Gb or a new 16Gb stick?
   
2. Can the existing 8Gb work alongside a new 16Gb stick OK?
   
3. Can someone tell me the RAM's part number to buy plz?

 

[maxie]

Hi there .. You are better using matching pairs of Ram .. Your Motherboard can take up to 32 GB .. Use the Scanner below to find out which type of Ram you need ..

Use the Crucial System Scanner software to find out what type of memory is in your computer


GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-Z77X-D3H (rev. 1.0)

 

[madcratebuilder]

The ideal situation is always matched RAM. You board supports DDR3 2800(OC)/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules. ID the stick you have now and find it's mate on evilbay, it should be fine at default settings. I've run mixed sets of RAM in the past with no ill effects, different speeds, sizes and manufacturers, it's not the recommended procedure but it can work. If you are going to OC for optimum performance then you really need all new matched sticks.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Handling ram is very straight forward. Once you've found the closest matching stick of the same brand and description then open the hold down clips and by grabbing the ram by it's ends you can only align in one direction to properly fit in it's ram slot via the center notch so pay close attention to that alignment. Please refer to your mobo manual for the correct lane to use, your mobo has all black lanes but that second ram stick will want to be one of the available three lanes and the manual will explain which. When the ram properly seats the clips will lightly snap into place and often makes a clicking sound.

As mentioned if you can't find the same ram then you'll want to get a matching set from a quality manufacturer. It would allow for a ram speed increase (mhz rating) and I would think minimum 1600-1866 Mhz or on the semi affordable high end 2133-2400 Mhz. Look to Corsair, GSkill, Crucial, Kingston and several others can make excellent choices. Side note I just bought but have'nt tried yet a new brand called Team but I'm reading good things.

I would removed and look closely at the make and model of the first ram stick and then with that info go shopping to find it's pair.

 

[Mellon Head]

Sorry to burden you guys with a mundane question but I'm Hardware illiterate.

My wife's PC is constantly running @ 80-90% RAM capacity. I think it needs more grunt.

The MB is Gygabyte GA-277x-D3H & there is one stick of 8Gb RAM * WIN7 x 64. I dare not touch the RAM stick just in case I zapp it.

BUT.... due to location in australia i need to order in via eBay etc. No shop close by.


QUESTIONS:

1. Exactly what type of RAM do I need? A second 8Gb or a new 16Gb stick?
   
2. Can the existing 8Gb work alongside a new 16Gb stick OK?
   
3. Can someone tell me the RAM's part number to buy plz?

She's got 8 GB of RAM and she's running at 80 to 90% capacity? What is she running that takes that much RAM? It sounds to me like she has something eating up her RAM rather than needing more of it. Unless she's doing video editing or something, 8 GB should be more than enough for most applications.

 

[whs]

With 8GB of RAM, you should never run out of RAM. I think you have another problem. What is your wife running on that system.

Post a picture of Resource Monitor > Memory tab so that we can have a look.

 

[AddRAM]

16 GB stick ?

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4144#ov

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231628

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220686

But you should really get a 16 GB set 4 x 4GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231516

 

[Layback Bear]

Running one module of ram on a dual channel motherboard could also be a slow down problem.

 

[AaLF]

The 8gb is eaten up by open multiple browsers & tabs plus Photoshop is needed regularly so it & others remain open.

 

[whs]

I am still waiting for this Resource Monitor picture.

 

[Mellon Head]

The 8gb is eaten up by open multiple browsers & tabs plus Photoshop is needed regularly so it & others remain open.

Must be a lot of browsers and tabs open, but I still wouldn't think that that would use that much RAM. 80 to 90% of 8 GB seems very excessive. I have 8 GB and I can't get higher than about 40% with Visual Studio, and a number of other programs running, including browser pages and tabs. There has to be another issue here that we can't see. Please post the Resource Monitor picture that whs asked for so we can help.

 

[AaLF]

Will do when she is away from the PC. (IMO its too many browsers the main hassle. I tried it on mine. They eat up ram.)

 

[whs]

A little discipline would be cheaper than more RAM. 8GBs should really be enough for that kind of applications.