To mix modules or not? Could use some help with settings

So typically if this was a new PC I wouldn't mix modules but my system is a few years old now obviously. In my system I currently have 16GB (2x8GB) F3-1866C9D-16GXM RipjawsX DDR3-1866MHz CL9-10-9 1.50V.

Just sitting in a box I have:
8GB (2x4GB) F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) 9-9-9-24-2N CAS Latency 9.


So should I add the extra 8gb to my system to make use of it? It wouldn't be in dual channel anymore right? I think I'd also have to make sure all the ram settings match the slower 1333 vs the 1866Mhz. What would you guys do?

Considering how much ram browsers seem to eat up and this is on a fresh win10 install kinda curious if the extra ram would be more beneficial over the speed to prolong the life of this system or would the performance hit make it not worth it?

I looked it up for reference on Intel's site and it shows the i7 4770k DDR3-1333/1600. Any idea what safe timings (I'm shit at this) would be to get the 1333 sticks to 1600, cas 10 X-X-X-2X 2N? The 1866 could clearly do 1600. So I think if I could get everything running at 1600 that would be good. Not sure if a divider or ratio or whatever would come into play.

What is the purpose of this box?

If this is a MS Office / web surfing box, then stuff it full of ram and let it do whatever it wants to, since speed really isn't a concern for those tasks anyway.

But if this is a gaming box where a little speed might make a difference - you already have 16gb - unless there is a particular app that "needs" more than that, I wouldn't bother. Browsers are going to be what they are but none should be that bad (unless you are one of those crazy people that leaves 20+ tabs open all at once).

I'd rather the actual speed bump from the faster ram than some theoretical bonus ram space that I may or may not use occasionally.

But that's just IMHO, so FWIW.

Video games, media, websurfing. From this article with sandy bridge it doesn't seem like speed amounts to much, under 1 fps difference from the charts below. Kinda crazy how you can have 100 tabs open in your iphone to forget about and nothing happens but if you have 10 open in windows your ram's getting crippled.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3/6

Not sure about portable apps today, but before you could open a bunch because they would pause the inactive tabs. On a PC all the tabs will keep on doing whatever they are doing and stay active.

Also newer browsers - to prevent hacks - will run each tab as a separate instance of the whole program, along with each add on for the browser. So a Chrome browser loaded with add ons will eat a chunk of ram, then multiply that by a bunch of tabs on top of that - will eat memory like a downtown DC crack-head back in the 90s.

You'd have to set the memory to run all of the same speed, and make sure that the sticks are in the correct channel with each other, but it should work.

Are you sure the second set isnt 1066? If so its unlikely to hit 1866. You would need to find the 1066 best speed and timings then run the 1866 at the same.
Either way youll have to try it to find out.
GL!

hititnquitit said:

Are you sure the second set isnt 1066? If so its unlikely to hit 1866. You would need to find the 1066 best speed and timings then run the 1866 at the same.
Either way youll have to try it to find out.
GL!

Click to expand...

I don't think so? https://www.gskill.com/product/165/...LRipjawsDDR3-1333MHz-CL9-9-9-1.50V4GB-(1x4GB)

So even if all of these modules end up running at 1333 whatever I'll live with the 1-2 FPS loss in games. Would it even be possible for them to run in dual channel or quad channel having different memory sizes? On that note what about command rate? Each set lists 2N, could 4 of them run in 2N?