Does mixing 4 gb ram 2666 mhz and 16 gb ram 3200 mhz cause any problems with my laptop? AN715-51

HansUngson
HansUngson Member Posts: 7 New User
edited January 2021 in Nitro Gaming
My laptop is Acer Nitro AN715-51 and planned to upgrade my ram. It is currently 4 gb ram x 2, both are ddr4, sodimm, and 2666 mhz. Technically, I am planning to upgrade with my newly bough crucial 16 gb 3200 mhz ddr4 sodimm ram. I know that if I mix two different rams with different speed, it will underclock the ram with higher speed to match with the ram with the lower speed (2666 mhz). The only thing that is bugging me is that will it cause any problems in my laptop such as blue screen of death or something?

P.S. Currently, I have 2 rams inserted (4 gb x 2) with these ram having different manufacturers, one being samsung and the other being Apacer technology (I am assuming this is the stock ram). I put this here just in case it is a very useful information

Answers

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    In theory it will work but it will not only underclock, but drop to single channel which can massively effect performance, you want to be running 2X the same speed and size ram. 

    Also check to make sure the voltage for the sticks is the same
  • HansUngson
    HansUngson Member Posts: 7 New User
    If in case it will cause any problems, my back-up plan will be that I will let the acer agent remove both my inserted rams and insert the 16 gb ram... I wanted to make it have 20 gb of ram but I lack budget as of now so I cannot full buy into 32 gb of  ram
  • HansUngson
    HansUngson Member Posts: 7 New User
    Leostat said:
    In theory it will work but it will not only underclock, but drop to single channel which can massively effect performance, you want to be running 2X the same speed and size ram. 

    Also check to make sure the voltage for the sticks is the same
    I saw some sites that say having a single channel will greatly affect the performance, thank you for confirming... the voltage of the sticks is the one I was not aware of considering the amount of research I made thank you for informing me
  • HansUngson
    HansUngson Member Posts: 7 New User
    Leostat said:
    In theory it will work but it will not only underclock, but drop to single channel which can massively effect performance, you want to be running 2X the same speed and size ram. 

    Also check to make sure the voltage for the sticks is the same
    May I ask what will happen if in case two of rams have two different voltages?
  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    edited January 2021
    The laptop will try to run both at the same voltage, could cause massive instability if it undervolts one stick, or fry a stick if it overvolts.

    The breaking a stick is unlikley but can happen, as it should just be 1.2v for both, and at max 1.35v

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