4 Myths and Misconceptions About RAM You Need to Stop Believing
Mihir Patkar December 16, 2019 Updated December 16, 2019 16-12-2019 5 minutes
RAM (random access memory) is one of the basic components of a computer or a smartphone. But a lot of misconceptions are floating about, like whether you can mix RAM size or brands. Let's bust some myths about RAM.
The job of RAM is to remember computations for a limited amount of time, so that your processor does not need to redo those computations each time. But there are misconceptions about using different sizes of RAM together—does RAM have to match? In this article, we'll attempt to answer them all.
1. "You Can't Mix RAM Size."
Generally, most laptops or computers come with two slots for RAM sticks, and sometimes more. And there's a prevailing misconception that you can't use different RAM size together, or mix RAM brands. That's not true. Can you mix RAM size? Yes. But it might not be best for performance.
It is advisable to use RAM sticks by the same manufacturer, of the same size, and of the same frequency. But there's a simple reason behind why mixing RAM sizes is usually not the best way. RAM has several components that all come together to make it perform well.
For two different size RAM sticks to perform optimally together, they need to use the same voltage and their respective controllers should play well with each other and the motherboard. That's why it's best to use the same model in all slots.
However, this doesn't mean you can't use different size RAM sticks together. For example, if your first stick is 4GB, you can still add a new 8GB stick. Once you switch on dual channel mode (also called flex mode), it will perform as two 4GB sticks running side by side in optimal performance.
The remaining 4GB of the new stick will run in single channel mode. Overall, it's not as fast as using two sticks of the same size, but it's still faster than what you had before.
It's the same with frequency or speed. Your RAM sticks will work together at the frequency of the lower stick, by default. So do RAM sticks have to match? No, but it's better if they do.
2. "I Don't Need More RAM"
"This amount of RAM is enough to run the software, you don't need any more," is common advice you'll find. Yes, it might be enough to run apps, but that doesn't mean it can't be faster. More RAM does help, even if you use different size RAM together. And that's because of how programs are made.
Most developers write their programs in a way where the app requests for a certain percentage of the RAM available. So if you have more RAM installed, the same requested percentage will mean more size for the program.
Just because you're using only 60 percent (or any small percentage) of your total RAM capacity, it doesn't mean you don't need more RAM. Your regular tasks might only request 60 percent of RAM, saving the rest for other tasks that you might start in the future.
As a general thumb rule for computers, for regular users, 4GB is the minimum and 8GB is the recommended size for best performance. Gamers, PC enthusiasts, and professionals who work with graphics, video or sound should look for 16GB.
In Android phones, Android Authority ran an experiment to estimate ideal RAM requirements. They advise about 2.5GB for regular users, 3GB for social users, and 5GB for gamers.
3. "RAM Size Is All That Matters"
You probably know how much RAM your phone or PC has. And when someone says they have more RAM in their PC, you automatically assume their system runs faster. But that's not necessarily true. The capacity or size of the RAM isn't all that matters.
Among the determining factors of RAM performance are speed and frequency. Like with a CPU, RAM has clock speeds. The higher the clock speed, the more functions it can perform in a second. You'll often find RAM sticks with 2400 MHz or 3000 MHz frequency.
However, be careful of mismatched RAM here. If the RAM runs at 2000 MHz frequency but your motherboard supports only 1333 MHz, you aren't going to get that speed boost. So buy RAM based on your motherboard's capacity.
Generally speaking, the regular computer user won't see much of a difference between 8GB and 16GB of RAM. However, changing it to a faster RAM of the same 8GB can lead to a significant boost. Depending on how you use your machine, you should figure out which is more important for you, faster RAM or more RAM? Which Is More Important: Faster RAM or More RAM? Which Is More Important: Faster RAM or More RAM? You've narrowed the source of your PC's sluggishness to RAM. What do you do? Increase the amount of RAM? Or would you be better off with faster RAM? It isn't that straightforward. Read More
4. "You Should Clear RAM to Improve Speed"
This is the most frustrating and persistent myth about how memory works. It's one of the misconceptions that came out out of an influx of "RAM booster" or "memory optimizer" software. If your RAM is full, that's a good thing! Don't clear RAM, it doesn't improve speed.
The job of RAM isn't to sit empty. In fact, your operating system and your software should be using up every little bit of RAM available. Freeing up RAM with one of those booster programs does nothing. If anything, it might actually slow down your system, since "freeing up" means you are removing certain computations from the RAM's memory.
RAM or memory isn't the same as a hard drive or storage! RAM auto-adjusts itself. If you have 4GB of RAM, then it is constantly writing, erasing, and rewriting data in those 4GB. And all of that is data which you don't want to store for posterity. "Storage" is what your hard drive does, and it doesn't auto-adjust.
In a nutshell, having free space on your hard drive is a good thing, but having free space on your RAM is a bad thing.
Please don't use memory cleaning apps, they do more harm than good. Instead, if you're facing a problem, try these Android memory management tips for low RAM Low RAM on Your Phone? 6 Android Memory Management Tips You Need to Know Low RAM on Your Phone? 6 Android Memory Management Tips You Need to Know Worried about the amount of RAM on your Android phone? Here's how to manage memory on Android, plus what not to do. Read More .
RAM Works Differently on Macs and iPhones
Apple has a different approach to RAM than PCs and Android phones, so a lot of the above rules go out the window. But don't worry, we have excellent guides to explain the differences.
The iPhone's base architecture is much different from Android. That's why you won't find Apple talking about how much RAM its iPhones have, while they're still as fast as the best Android phones. We have a quick explanation of why iPhones use less RAM than Android phones.
On Macs, you can't easily replace or upgrade RAM like with a PC. You need to know if your Mac can accept an upgrade and pick the right components. Check out our guide on how to upgrade RAM on your Mac How to Upgrade the RAM on Your Mac How to Upgrade the RAM on Your Mac Learn how to check if you can replace your Mac's RAM, where to buy RAM, and how to upgrade it in this Mac RAM upgrade guide. Read More to know more.
Learn More About RAM
By now you should understand that while it is okay to mix and match RAM types, you'll face some limitations. But what is RAM and how does it work? Why are modules different and why do RAM speeds differ?
Our quick and dirty guide to understanding RAM A Quick and Dirty Guide to RAM: What You Need to Know A Quick and Dirty Guide to RAM: What You Need to Know RAM is a crucial component of every computer, but it can be confusing. We break it down in easy-to-grasp terms you'll understand. Read More can answer most questions.
Explore more about: Computer Memory, Debunking Myths, Hardware Tips.
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C.Thanga
I was using a 4GB RAM then I added a 8GB stick. Its showing as a 12 GB in MY Computer. So my question is will it work as 12 GB RAM
Tai The Guy
Coulda been a fluke, but a couple weeks ago, i upgraded a laptop from 4gb+4gb, to 4gb+8gb... Passmark performance test b4 & after. The shit actually went DOWN a tiny bit at 1st! Even after that, it just barely went up. Results went from like 1250, to 1235, then randomly to like 1270ish. That's like nothing. I've seen 3-400 point jumps from a single cpu, or ssd upgrade before
nah, my Notebook have 4gb RAM only. I usually open more than 10 tabs in Chrome, Runnung Spotify in Background and MS Word or PowerPoint. It doesn't bottleneck at all. Gamers and Graphic/Video editor need more RAM for sure. In my conclusion, 4gb is more than enough for regular user.
"4gb is more than enough for regular user."
At one time the pronouncement was "640k is more than enough for a regular user." :-)
Yes, and in the future we will be saying the same thing about 4GB. However, this isn't the future or the past. This is the present, and at the present 4GB is enough.
It's not the future, it is the present. Maybe 4gb of RAM is 'good enough' for you and K2k but many regular users run their PCs with 8, 16, 32 or even 64gb of RAM. Where do you and K2k get the chutzpah to decree what is or is not enough?!
Haha, excellent, spot-on reply! (And the mouthpiece Dragonmouth couldn't handle it.)
B-rad
Greetings from the future. I'm here to let you know 4 GB isn't enough.
Mike Huang
Ram speed doesn't make much of a difference for the vast majority of platforms and applications. You should look up the benchmarks before making your recommendations.
Hate to bash on this but much of this is quite off.
Windows and associated processes can take up to 4gb of RAM. Setting up your pagefile can help, but honestly running any non-32bit system with less than 16gb will work, but limit the OS and applications. Anyone who uses any internet browser will see definitive benefits from having a minimum of 8gb, but a drastic increase in system performance from doubling that to 16gb.
The point you should be making is to max out a single slot, if that's 4, 8, or 16gb, a single stick will perform similarly with two in dual channel (within ~5%). The only area where this isn't true is serious simulation (CFD, parametric analysis)where it will heavily benefit from dual-channel configurations (~17.7% advantage).
There have been rigorous lab testing if this for the last decade plus.
Max out each slot, with the highest speed natively supported, and you'll have the best it can be without overclocking, or using XMP settings.
Raja Sekar
You've said every bit of RAM has to be used but why does phones get slow when there is no more free RAM is Available and faster when there is more free RAM available?
Free RAM required must not be more then what the new process of an app requires. If it's lesser than that Android Garbage collector must free RAM "enough" for the app. Mostly 70 MB of really free RAM( excluding cache) is enough (except for games (they will get more if they want , but takes time). You can modify these values on a rooted Android device
"...more then what..." Then than; "then" refers to time, "than" to comparisons.
Funny, I've NEVER heard of a DRAM controller that will enable dual-channel on two or more sticks of RAM of dissimilar size. This must be something with the new DDR4 chipsets...
you idiot
In #1 seems to be saying that I need as much RAM as I can get for my programs to run faster but in #2 you are saying that it is not necessarily true.
Mihir Patkar 1171 articles
Mihir Patkar writes on technology and productivity when he isn't binge watching re-runs.
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