I'm currently running with 6GB of PC12800 DDR3. I notice I'm using up all memory when doing video editing and also some games, so I'd like to resolve that. It isnt hampering me greatly but I figure it is an easy and cheap fix.

My question is which would I be better off going with as far as performance is concerned...

1) Purchase another 6GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225) giving me a total of 12GB, all the same RAM type.

2) Purchase 12GB and remove the existing 6GB, giving me a total of 12GB. This would still be 3 sticks, instead of getting 12GB and 6 sticks with option #1. I'm just thinking it's less to fail with only three sticks... and only slightly more expensive. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231358)

3) Purchase the #2 option but leave in the 6GB I already have. All the RAM timings are the same between the two sets, it's even the same brand, just 3 of the sticks would be 4GB sticks and 3 of the sticks would be the older 2GB sticks. Would this cause problems? If not, this would give me 18GB of RAM and is what I would prefer, as long as it wont hamper performance somehow with not having the same size sticks in the slots.

Any ideas would be great, thanks!

You just need more memory period, go either way.

 

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Are you actually using that much memory? Windows tends to eat up a fair amount for various purposes and that memory is actually free if needed. What video game are you running that uses so much RAM? I cant speak for video editing but I'd be likewise surprised to find out that with 6GB of RAM you were running into serious memory issues.

I'd probably just get 3x2GB to match the sticks you already have.

Considering you can get 12GB for just $15 more than 6GB, I'd go with that. And keep the 6GB in there and run with 18GB.

ram is so cheap. max whatever your mobo can handle and be done with it

 

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CHECK YOUR MOTHER BOARD TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH SLOTS TO ADD THREE MORE MEMORY DIMMS!

If you have the slots, then it really doesn't matter. If you don't, 4GB DIMMS is your only option.

 

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I have 6 slots, no worries there.

My concern was that having 3 2GB sticks and 3 4GB sticks might somehow make Windows handle the memory weird? Or does it not care on the stick size, as long as the memory can all handle the same timings and is the same speed?

Usually it should not be a problem mixing memory sizes as long as both memory sticks can stably run at the same voltage and memory timings.

However I have seen memory not work well together.

Personally I'd still use both the 6 and 12GB kits together and maybe run Memtest86+ just to confirm it's working together correctly.

Memory needs to go into a motherboard by the rules and the rules vary you'll need to read the documentation for your motherboard on what the right way is.

In general, memory slots are broken up into banks. The are generally labeled bank A, B, C... You cannot mix memory in different banks. If I were to put 2GB dims in and 4GB dimms, I would have to put all the two GB dimms in bank A and the 4 in bank B or all the 4GB dimms in A and the 2GB in B.

All the slots in the first bank usually must be filled before you can put memory in the next bank. The banks may or may not be labeled on the motherboard, they generally are. If not, go to the docs.

It's also possible your motherboard will treat everything like it's 2GB dimms, no matter what you do.

I don't like to mix DIMM sizes. I put everything in the same density.

 

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Alright, thanks for the advice guys.

I've already got my 6GB in the triple channel that is all paired together, so what I'm going to do is buy the 12GB of RAM and put that in the other 3 slots.

If all it does is give me 12GB total because the motherboard sees 2GB in each slot, then I'll remove the first 6GB and sell them off or keep them for another build or something. I'll still end up with 12GB that way. Or, if it comes up with 18GB, I'll keep it.

And if I never get anywhere near 18GB used, which I'm sure will be the case, I'll end up taking the 6GB out anyway and doing something else with it, 12GB should be plenty.