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12-02-2020 03:55 PM
Hi,
So I just purchased a new HP Envy desktop. I'm planning to upgrade the RAM (from the current configuration of 2x4GB sticks to 1x16GB stick).
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1. Is it recommended to first get the computer up and going, and then switch out the RAM? Or, BEFORE I ever turn it on for the very first time, could I switch out the RAM then and then go thru startup/setup, etc?
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2. Should I leave one of the 4GB sticks in, or will that cause possible performance problems? Not matter?
.
Thank you!
Chet
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12-02-2020 04:00 PM - edited 12-02-2020 04:00 PM
Hi, Chet:
I recommend that you make sure the PC works as it is configured and if it does, shut it down and add the 16 GB stick.
That way if the add-on memory doesn't work at least you know that is the problem and not something else.
You can leave one of the 4 GB memory chips in there and have 20 GB.
With a single 16 GB stick or a 16 GB + 4 GB stick the memory is going to run in the lower performing single channel mode regardless.
In order for the memory to run in the higher performing dual channel mode, you need to install memory in matching capacities (2 x 4 GB, 2 x 8 GB, 2 x 16 GB).
The PC supports 2 x 16 GB of memory.
HP Desktop PCs - Motherboard Specifications, Baker | HP® Customer Support
12-02-2020 04:00 PM - edited 12-02-2020 04:00 PM
Hi, Chet:
I recommend that you make sure the PC works as it is configured and if it does, shut it down and add the 16 GB stick.
That way if the add-on memory doesn't work at least you know that is the problem and not something else.
You can leave one of the 4 GB memory chips in there and have 20 GB.
With a single 16 GB stick or a 16 GB + 4 GB stick the memory is going to run in the lower performing single channel mode regardless.
In order for the memory to run in the higher performing dual channel mode, you need to install memory in matching capacities (2 x 4 GB, 2 x 8 GB, 2 x 16 GB).
The PC supports 2 x 16 GB of memory.
HP Desktop PCs - Motherboard Specifications, Baker | HP® Customer Support
12-02-2020 04:09 PM
Thank you so much for the thorough reply, Paul! And yeah, good point on making sure the computer works as delivered first.
That's great info on the memory. Would it be better off just going with the 16GB stick by itself, knowing I would add another 16GB later if needed? You seem to indicate the extra 4GB stick really won't affect anything but I wanted to make sure, especially if I'm video editing (I don't do gaming).
Thanks again!!
Chet
12-02-2020 04:16 PM
You're very welcome, Chet.
Your option.
If it were me, I would leave the 4 GB chip in there until I replaced it with another 16 GB chip.
If you are video editing, you want all of the onboard memory the PC can handle, even though your PC has the very nice NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 GPU with 4 GB of dedicated memory.
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