most likely a noob question, but please help!

[EvilKupo]

Ok, so my friend is building a new computer and I'm going to buy the RAM for her. I have a stick of Hyperx 2GB (KHX1600C9AD3) and my idea was to buy another stick of that exact ram plus 2 sticks of the similar type but 4GB so there would be a total of 12GB of RAM, would this work okay?

I couldn't find the exact answer to this question, the only answer I found was "sometimes" mixing ram works, but I thought maybe if it was the same brand and everything it would work, just didn't want to buy it and not have it work.

Thank you!

 

[fffblackmage]

I don't think there is a 100% for-sure guarantee that even getting the same brand and the same spec ram will work. I would just get ram with similar specs, just because I've never had ram that didn't work together.

 

[Puppies04]

What is this computer for, if the answer is gaming/web surfing then just get 2 x 4gb and be done with it, this will be more RAM than she ever uses.

 

[EvilKupo]

it's for gaming but also picture editing. I already have a 2GB so it will either be get 3 more 2 GB for 8 gigs or 1 more 2GB and 2 4GB for 12...reading online says that the more is better, with 8 being minimum for a good photo editing machine.

 

[noblemo]

Is the existing RAM at the highest allowable speed for the mobo? In the past I have found it cheaper to upgrade to a new matched set rather than trying to mix and match. As Puppies04 recommended, just use new 2 x 4GB; you can always add more later if needed. This is for a 64-bit OS, correct? Does the mobo use dual or triple channel memory? (If three-channel, go with 3 x 4GB).