Need Help with Upgrading My RAM Please

watupman on 27/01/2024 - 10:26
Last edited 27/01/2024 - 13:38 by 1 other user

Good morning awesome OzBargainers :)

My life has been all about league of legends lately and my FPS has been dropping lately. I have finally decided to upgrade my RAM to 16gb hehe. Apparently I do not have extra ram slot therefore need to get 16gb x 1 to replace 8gb x1 stick. I would love to get a recommendation on the product that would work with my computer.

Also is it easy to replace the ram on my own?

So far I've looked at:

  1. CORSAIR Vengeance SODIMM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4 3200 MHz Laptop Memory $59

  2. G.Skill Aegis 16GB (1x16GB) DDR4 3200Mhz Desktop RAM $53 plus delivery

Specs of my computer (thanks to Techfast)
Ryzen 5 3500X
GTX 1660 6GB [Galax 1-click]
8GB 2666MHz
A320 MB
240GB 2.5" SSD
550W PSU
Leaper Air Mini RGB Case

Thanks so much you awesome people :)

Computing Computer Component RAM

Comments

  • deme on 27/01/2024 - 10:31
    +3

    Wtf is FOS?

    You have a single ram slot in 2024?

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 10:45

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/542446#comment-8926093

      This is the ine that I got :)

    • HeWhoKnows on 28/01/2024 - 08:12

      "Apparently" ????

      A gaming PC should have 4 RAM slots
      Even small form factor Work stations have 2 if not 4 RAM slots

      Has OP even looking inside the PC yet?

      • GordonD on 28/01/2024 - 08:29

        A gaming PC should have 4 RAM slots

        You may need a lot of RAM for gaming, but in fact the RAM can run faster, and therefore the gaming will be faster if the CPU only has to drive two sticks of RAM in two slots rather than four.

        • deme on 28/01/2024 - 10:21

          Tell us Gordon, why would this be?

          • GordonD on 28/01/2024 - 15:37

            @deme: Do you know about resistance and capacitance? Resistance measures how much work it takes to push electrons through a wire. Capacitance measures how many electrons are stored. Each time a signal flips between 0 and 1 on a wire the device doing the work has to push enough electrons into the wire, or pull enough out of it, to flip the logic state of whatever's at the other end. And it has to do it against the resistance of the wire. If you have a longer wire and two things connected to it is working against twice as much capacitance and twice as much resistance. It can't do it as fast as if there was a shorter wire with only one thing on the other end of it. Two pairs of RAM sockets increase the wire length and resistance compared to one. And two pairs of RAM SIMMs increase the capacitance. You are still constrained by how fast the RAM can operate at, but at a given voltage the CPU can only push/pull electrons at a maximum rate, so a given CPU and motherboard can achieve a higher stable RAM overclocking speed if there are only one pair of RAM sockets so the conductors are shorter and one pair of RAM SIMMs at the other end of them.

            • deme on 28/01/2024 - 16:36

              @GordonD:

              Each time a signal flips between 0 and 1 on a wire the device doing the work has to push enough electrons into the wire, or pull enough out of it, to flip the logic state of whatever's at the other end.

              This is not how electricity works, it's not how flip flops work and it's not how dram works.

              The actual flow of electric energy propagates through the wire at c, driven by the electromagnetic forces acting on the electrons, the electrons move through the wire very slow in comparison. What you are saying is taught to you in primary school because kids are dumb. You don't store bits on wire either when using ram.

              • GordonD on 28/01/2024 - 21:15

                @deme:

                This is not how electricity works

                So you can explain to us why if you want a faster ethernet connection you need a shorter length of the same cat cable, or a better cable?

                If pushing a pulse train through a cable into a load at the other end isn't about capacitance and resistance, just about electromagnetic forces, why would you need either a shorter or a better cable for the signal to still be square edged enough at the other end for the signal to get through?

                Sure, electric current isn't electrons flowing right through a cable from one end to the other. But as sure as hell if you push electrons into one end of a cable electrons come out the other end.

                • deme on 28/01/2024 - 21:21

                  @GordonD: What are you talking about?

                  Running cat5/6 cable for 1m won't get you any faster than for 100m.

        • HeWhoKnows on 28/01/2024 - 13:00

          100% correct!
          but the difference would not be noticeable
          Probably milliseconds.
          Im only making the point that one would expect to see 4 RAM slots

          However we appear to be in agreement that there should be at least 2 slots and to add a second stick of RAM in the 2nd slot.
          Also works out much cheaper that way

          • GordonD on 28/01/2024 - 15:52

            @HeWhoKnows:

            but the difference would not be noticeable

            I have a computer on my desk that's manual notes that if you want to use 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM in it you have to fit single row SODIMMs. You can fit dual row SODIMMs, and they'll work, but it won't be able to run the RAM at 3200 MHz, it will run the RAM slower, even if its 3200 MHz RAM.

            (Of course there's then the question of whether a dual row SODIMM running at 2933 MHz is just as fast as a single row SODIMM running at 3200 MHz, but that's a question for another time.)

            • avoidfullprice on 29/01/2024 - 10:26

              @GordonD: Sorry GordonD for your last year cancer diagnosis which you shared with us. I suppose as a 70+ yo human there is no way for us to prove you wrong. So i just want to add on top of your very correct knowledge of resistance and capacitance that clock and data signal suffers instability running at double the bandwidth in dual channel configuration.

              running both DDR4 sticks at 3200MHz requires the cpu memory controller to stably manage a bandwidth of 51.2GB/s. The limit of your CPU requires the memory controller to lower the clock speed to 2933MHz so it runs more stably with bandwidth of 46.9GB/s. In single channel mode a 3200MHz stick runs with a bandwidth of 25.6GB/s.

              So all in all, for DDR4 it is a play on latency (clock speeds) and bandwidth (data speeds) without CPU instability.

  • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 10:36

    I meant FPS sorry 😞
    Well, I only paid like 800 dollars for it 3 years ago haha

  • GordonD on 27/01/2024 - 10:49
    +2

    I'd like to help.

    But what the OP is telling us doesn't sound likely. So I'd be concerned that advice based on wrong information would be bad advice.

    You have 550W PSU, and a motherboard with a GTX1660, but it only has a slot for one SODIMM? Unlikely.

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 10:55

      Thanks for your reply, sir. Last time I checked with my mate. I sent him photos and extra, he said I do not have space for another ram to put in.

      Can I post a picture of my computer (opened) here?

      • avoidfullprice on 27/01/2024 - 15:54

        Can you share that photo with us as well? Even with clarifications below i am no clear what information you have are facts and what are incorrect. We think it is fair simple answer to your question

        https://imgbb.com/

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 11:10
      -1

      Ooops, I may have another slot for ram. I will check once I get home. If I do have another slot available, can I just buy any 8gb 3200mhz on top of 2666mhz ram that I already have?

      Thanks a lot man

      • GordonD on 27/01/2024 - 12:10

        The most likely scenario, since its a desktop with a graphics card and a 550W PSU, is that it has a standard desktop motherboard that has two slots for standard desktop RAM. Not SODIMMs, which are for mostly only for laptops.

        If only one RAM slot is occupied you can simply buy a second similar RAM and put it in the other slot.

        If both RAM slots are already occupied you best choice is to replace the two smaller capacity RAM sticks with two larger capacity identical ones.

      • A-mak on 28/01/2024 - 21:19

        I would suggest downloading HWINFO64 (free) open it up in 'summary' mode and google your exact mobo website which there will be a document with a list of supported ram sticks on said website.

        'Any other' DDR4 ram is likely to work however all sticks of ram will run at the slowest sticks speed and timings, but having 2 same-size sticks would typically mean dual-channel mode will be active which is noticeably faster.

  • DOGGYWOWWOW on 27/01/2024 - 10:49
    +2

    Option 1 is for laptops so don't get that, Option 2 is fine but I also find it hard to believe you only have one ram slot. Perhaps check again they should be vertical slots on the top right of your motherboard.

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 10:56

      Whew! Good that I didn't get that one.
      May I ask how can you tell if it’s for laptop or a desktop? So that I won't make a mistake buying a laptop one

      • DOGGYWOWWOW on 27/01/2024 - 10:57
        +1

        Is your computer a laptop? I don't think Techfast sells laptops. Laptop ram typically has laptop or SODIMM in the name, just avoid those.

      • CrispyChrispy on 27/01/2024 - 11:59

        Laptop RAM is labelled as SODIMM. It is thinner and taller than regular desktop RAM.

        Do not get them confused; laptop RAM will not fit in desktop motherboards, vice versa.

  • ihfree on 27/01/2024 - 11:11
    +2

    You'll almost undoubtedly have two slots. As already suggested, post a photo or get a utility like Hwinfo and find what model your mobo is

    I'd look at Corsair Vengeance 3200mhz kit and get rid of the existing 8gb dimm.

    It might also be worth going to 32gb. Suggestion:

    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3200MHz C16 Desktop Gaming Memory Black ~CMK32GX4M2E3200C16

    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07RW6Z692

    You can find that kit in 16gb(2x8gb).

    If you're on a extreme budget, a second 8gb dimm would likely be ok, but it would be limited to the performance of the existing dimm. However, note that mismatched dimms is generally not recommended.

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 11:38

      Thanks so much :)

      Will get the cosair one 8gb x 2

      • deme on 27/01/2024 - 14:03
        +2

        Watch some YouTube videos on how to do it

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 11:42

      Will Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB(2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz CL16 Desktop RAM be compatible with A320 motherboard?

      • CrispyChrispy on 27/01/2024 - 11:57
        +1

        Yes, your only concern would be clearance however it's not an issue as LPX is low profile anyway. Get it.

      • ihfree on 27/01/2024 - 12:04
        +2

        You can enable XMP in bios after install to ensure the kit is running at 3200mhz. That and having dual channel should give a small performance boost.

        • watupman on 01/02/2024 - 12:09

          Unfortunately, my ram can only take up to 2333mhz but, it's better than before 😀
          Thanks

  • AndyC1 on 27/01/2024 - 11:42
    +1

    What motherboard is in the PC? If you do not know open it up and look. If you still cannot figure it out have a look at hwinfo64 and see what is says.

    • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 11:43

      I am pretty sure it is Biostar. Will it work with Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB(2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz CL16 Desktop RAM?

      Thanks mate

      • AndyC1 on 27/01/2024 - 11:50
        +1

        That's a company that makes motherboards.

        • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 13:07

          Biostar A320MH :) it should be fine right?

          • AndyC1 on 27/01/2024 - 13:13
            +2

            @watupman: Google "Biostar A320MH" and look yourself.

            Based on the lack of basic PC knowledge it sounds like you should take the PC to your local computer store and get a price for them to upgrade it as the motherboard info is very basic compared to installing a memory stick. Installing a memory stick is not hard, but does mean reading and looking how to do it on the web and making sure you follow instructions very carefully in order to not blow up something.

      • freefall101 on 27/01/2024 - 11:51
        +2

        Hit the windows key. Type "About". Hit enter. "About your machine" should open up and up the very top it should have your motherboard model.

        That said, there's a few Biostar A320 motherboards and they all have 2 ram slots. Make sure to buy DDR4 DIMMS and not SODIMMS (the latter is a totally different size and won't work).

        • watupman on 27/01/2024 - 13:07

          Thanks so much for your info. It's biostar A320MH

  • Namesareapain on 27/01/2024 - 11:58
    +2

    Your computer does not take SODIMMs, only DDR4 DIMMs.
    You also do not want to upgrade only one stick because it will not work in dual channel mode, what you need is a 16GB kit that consists of two 8GB sticks.

    • watupman on 30/01/2024 - 11:10

      Thanks for your adive. Ended up getting 16gb kit

  • shaz0316 on 27/01/2024 - 13:08
    +6

    Mate where are you located? Happy to help with installing and configuring your RAM if you are local and need the assist.

    • watupman on 30/01/2024 - 11:10

      You are the most kind person my man! I bought two 8gb ram and got to install it myself :)
      Thank you so much for the offer

    • watupman on 30/01/2024 - 11:10

      Now I can use dischord while playing league hehe

      • shaz0316 on 30/01/2024 - 12:37
        +1

        Glad it all worked out.

  • CC123 on 27/01/2024 - 13:38
    +1

    Apparently I do not have extra ram slot therefore need to get 16gb x 1 to replace 8gb x1 stick.

    Run a Crucial Scan and post your scan results. This will show whether you have 1 or 2 RAM slots

  • mapax on 27/01/2024 - 15:21
    +1

    Thought this was going to be about modding a Dodge Ram, then remembered this is OzBargain, disappointed…

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