RAM addition question

Smalltown · Apr 9, 2026

I'm currently running 16GB RAM. My motherboard is a Gigabyte B365M DS3H WIFI.
My memory is two sticks of TFORCE 8GB each
HWiNFO reports the memory sticks are 8GB PC4-24000 each. (Team Group UD4-3000)

My question is if I wanted to add more RAM do, I specifically need to look for PC4-2400 or could I install faster RAM knowing that if would run only as fast as the slowest RAM?
With memory prices sky high and trying to match the existing memory I also wonder about mix and match vendors?

Thanks for any comments

Ghot · Apr 9, 2026

@Smalltown

From your motherboard's specs...

Support for DDR4 2666/ 2400/ 2133 MHz memory modules
* To support 2666 MHz or XMP memory, you must install a 9th or 8th Generation Intel Core i9/i7/i5 processor.

I would just stick with 2400Mhz RAM. You're gonna have plenty of trouble just finding DDR4 RAM.
But yes, your board can support 2666Mhz RAM, but you won't notice that much difference is speed.

NOTE: The highest speed your CPU will support is 2666Mhz.

If it were me, I'd save my shillings for a completely new build, down the line a bit.

Smalltown · Apr 9, 2026

Ghot I am running an Intel Core I5-9400

Ghot · Apr 9, 2026

Smalltown said:
Ghot I am running an Intel Core I5-9400

I know... I looked in your specs.

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_i5/Intel-Core%20i5%20i5-9400.html?

Same website this is your 6 core CPU speed...

Windows 11 is pushing the limit of your CPU too.
Same with the vid card.

That's why I suggest you save up for a complete rebuild.

Wait till the RAM prices drop again, and build a newer comp.
I'm doing the same thing... waiting.
I built my current comp 6 years ago.

I was just considering new mobo, CPU, RAM and possibly vid card, when they blamed AI on rising prices..

While you're waiting, maybe consider something like this... (and a new power supply)

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7j6qqs/evga-geforce-rtx-3070-8-gb-xc3-ultra-gaming-video-card-08g-p5-3755-kr

Or this...

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CX4BD3/asus-geforce-rtx-3070-8-gb-tuf-gaming-oc-video-card-tuf-rtx3070-o8g-gaming

Power supply...

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/zBbypg/corsair-rm850e-2025-850-w-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-cp-9020296-na

Then next year, upgrade the mobo, CPU and RAM.

bobkn · Apr 9, 2026

Smalltown said:
I'm currently running 16GB RAM. My motherboard is a Gigabyte B365M DS3H WIFI.
My memory is two sticks of TFORCE 8GB each
HWiNFO reports the memory sticks are 8GB PC4-24000 each. (Team Group UD4-3000)

My question is if I wanted to add more RAM do, I specifically need to look for PC4-2400 or could I install faster RAM knowing that if would run only as fast as the slowest RAM?
With memory prices sky high and trying to match the existing memory I also wonder about mix and match vendors?

Thanks for any comments

As far as I know, it isn't possible to run two pairs of RAM at different frequencies. Or with different timings.

Years ago, I added non-identical RAM to a PC. (Different specs, different makers.) If memory serves, I had to manually set the RAM frequency and principal timings to get stable operation. The numbers were set by the slower RAM.

I'd formerly have recommended staying with 2 DIMMs by replacing the existing ones with higher-capacity ones, but given current RAM pricing...

If the AI boom turns out to be a bubble, things may normalize after the bubble bursts. If that leads to a recession, we may not have the spare funds to put into PC upgrades.

S0C9 · Apr 9, 2026

Given the (almost double)increase in recent RAM prices.. now is probably NOT the best time to upgrade.
But, 16GB 2400 DDR4 is running around $115 on Amazon for no-name brands.
G.Skill and others "name"' brands will run you $150+

Ghot · Apr 9, 2026

Lowest timings for 2666Mhz RAM I could find... and... it's "USED" RAM

Amazon.com

"New" but horribad timings, so slower...

Amazon.com

Desktop Memory (U-DIMM/CU-DIMM) - G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Designed for performance, G.SKILL desktop memory is engineered from hand-selected components and rigorously tested for stability and compatibility.

www.gskill.com

======================================================================
Ship/sold by MengYuanDianZi in Taiwan

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Memory Kit Model CMK32GX4M2A2666C16 - Newegg.com

Buy CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Memory Kit Model CMK32GX4M2A2666C16 with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

Ship/sold by Newegg but high (slow), timings...

G.SKILL Aegis 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Desktop Memory Model F4-2666C19D-32GIS - Newegg.com

Buy G.SKILL Aegis 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Desktop Memory Model F4-2666C19D-32GIS with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

For the same frequency RAM, say 2666Mhz, you want the lowest timings you can find.

Smalltown · Apr 9, 2026

Ghot that was the plan. I just updated my power supply on my specs. I recently upgraded to the MSI A1000GL PCIE5 power supply. I had intermittent shutdowns and the new power supply fixed that. Purchased a new "fish tank" case intending to upgrade even more when all the prices went sky high.
I wasn't intending to add more RAM to my current system, but given today's cost for newer DDR5 I was holding off upgrading MB, CPU and memory.

Ghot · Apr 9, 2026

Smalltown said:
Ghot that was the plan. I just updated my power supply on my specs. I recently upgraded to the MSI A1000GL PCIE5 power supply. I had intermittent shutdowns and the new power supply fixed that. Purchased a new "fish tank" case intending to upgrade even more when all the prices went sky high.
I wasn't intending to add more RAM to my current system, but given today's cost for newer DDR5 I was holding off upgrading MB, CPU and memory.

The cost for ALL RAM went up.
To replace my DDR4 Gskill 3200Mhz RAM... 14-14-14-34... (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)

I can't find it anywhere in the US (new).
It's the CL 14 that makes it impossible to find.

bobkn · Apr 9, 2026

Ghot said:
The cost for ALL RAM went up.
To replace my DDR4 Gskill 3200Mhz RAM... 14-14-14-34... (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)

I can't find it anywhere in the US (new).
It's the CL 14 that makes it impossible to find.

I wondered.

DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600),CL14 Desktop Memory | Newegg.com

Shop DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600),CL14 Desktop Memory on Newegg.com. Watch for amazing deals and get great pricing.

www.newegg.com

China and Hong Hong. Insanely expensive.

XxXxX · Apr 10, 2026

i have just been checking eBay UK
DDR4 2666 Dimm 32GB (2x16) is about £80/90 GBP
also DDR4 3200 is backward compatible.

which compared to new ram prices is very good.
its just a thought
best of luck Steve ..

Scannerman · Apr 11, 2026

Although some have said that latency isn't a thing anymore. I can only vouch from personal experience that there is a point at which your CL will matter more than the frequency of your RAM. If you have a latency of 14-14-14 you're better off keeping that DDR4 RAM on that particular system board. TEAM GROUP is known for reliable and stable RAM. Again, speaking from experience, I own 32GB of TEAM GROUP RAM that is more flexible than the Corsair Dominator RAM I'm using in my main. By "flexible" I mean that I can select half a dozen different clock settings and they all work! You could just XMP your RAM if you haven't done that already but T-FORCE is known to be user friendly to manual over clocking. I can promise you that you really won't experience much of a noticeable difference simply by swapping out 2400 with 2666 Dimms. IMO you'd be wasting money better spent on other hardware. Myself, I'd just OC the RAM and try to keep as low latency as possible.

Speed isn't everything and 16GB of RAM is generally adequate for most domestic end users. I would say there's plenty of life in the old girl yet, but I'm biased. I like older systems. If you're a gamer I would recommend looking at getting a newer GFX card, preferably one that comes with at least 8GB of RAM. As it currently stands your graphics card is likely generating a bottleneck. EVGA GeForce GTX 950 SSC Review

Smalltown · Apr 12, 2026

Scannerman that line of yours ("I would say there's plenty of life in the old girl yet") made a lot of sense to me. I guess that since things are working ok here, I'll just sit pat for now and see what happens with all this AI business.

Scannerman · Apr 14, 2026

Smalltown said:
Scannerman that line of yours ("I would say there's plenty of life in the old girl yet") made a lot of sense to me. I guess that since things are working ok here, I'll just sit pat for now and see what happens with all this AI business.

Well, if your experience has been anything like mine you'll likely want to remove as much of that AI slop from your OS as possible. There are tutorials here that can help you get rid of Co Pilot. I'd recommend getting a replacement graphics card for that unit. I purchased an old, used MSI 1050Ti card for someone using a very old i7 rig and they were so impressed with the difference they're still using it today. If you're experiencing lag and general sluggishness that's likely where your problem is. A 2GB GFX card just doesn't cut it anymore these days if you're doing anything even moderately graphics intensive.

Smalltown · Apr 15, 2026

Scannerman I wouldn't mind buying a used GPU, but I'm a little leery thinking I might be buying something that isn't working as it should.

Scannerman · Apr 15, 2026

Smalltown said:
Scannerman I wouldn't mind buying a used GPU, but I'm a little leery thinking I might be buying something that isn't working as it should.

If there were ever a time to buy used it would be the present time. E-Bay has good buyer protection now and so does Amazon. There has been the occasional instant where I have had to return a faulty used product but this is rare. I repair/rebuild for retired people and people's children. They don't have a lot finances to play with. In some ways buying used is better. You have an item that has been tried and tested. What with the price of silicon these days it's pretty much the only way to buy unless you have money to burn. Even something like this would be a vast improvement to what you're currently using. RX580

PCUser · Apr 15, 2026

Scannerman said:
Well, if your experience has been anything like mine you'll likely want to remove as much of that AI slop from your OS as possible. There are tutorials here that can help you get rid of Co Pilot. I'd recommend getting a replacement graphics card for that unit. I purchased an old, used MSI 1050Ti card for someone using a very old i7 rig and they were so impressed with the difference they're still using it today. If you're experiencing lag and general sluggishness that's likely where your problem is. A 2GB GFX card just doesn't cut it anymore these days if you're doing anything even moderately graphics intensive.

@Scannerman @Smalltown
If you're not using it already, O&O ShutUp10++ is great for turning off the AI and anti-privacy snoop background things that are not needed and hurt performance. I recommend it, and think you'd like it for that.
One note, you may need to re-run it after a Windows Update to revert to your previous O&O ShutUp10++ settings as Windows Updates can sometimes turn AI or other settings back on. The O&O ShutUp10++ app makes reverting to previous settings a one-click.

O&O ShutUp10++
The antispy tool for Windows 10 and 11!

Freeware

O&O ShutUp10++: Improve Windows data protection

Enable recommended privacy options and make Windows 10/11 leaner and more private with just a few clicks.

www.oo-software.com

www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

Scannerman · Apr 15, 2026

Or, as an alternative, you can try using Windows X-Lite Optimum 11 which is amazingly smooth and snappy. I have it on a number of older PCs now and it's working fine so far.

Home

windowsxlite.com

RAM addition question

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Just a Computer User

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Similar threads