HP Z230 i7 4790 memory upgrade question

[xtal_01]

Hello everyone!

Back story ... my wife is disabled and money is tight.  Our 10 year old (literally has a 2008 build sticker) died.  We can't afford a new computer.  After some looking around, we decided that we could afford a used HP Z230 with an i7 (the one I found has a 4790).  $230 plus shipping.  I will use my existing 1 TB hard drive and my nvidia GT 630.  This is actually the reason I choose the HP ... it has a 400W power supply (video card says it needs 350 W min ... dell 9020 has 290W and Lenovo M93p has 280W ... both machines are almost exactly equal to the Z280).

I run a small home business.  Some of the programs I use require (recommend) 16 gig.

The machine I found has only 8 gigs in it (two 4 gig sticks).

I want to add two more sticks of 4 gig to bring the total to 16.

I looked on ebay and amazon (needs to be memory I can afford) .... no luck.  Crucial offers 4 gig for $40 so $80 total.

Then I got a message from a friend.  He said I can not just add two more sticks of memory!  He said all 4 must be matching.  He said to throw away the 8 gig and to add 16 gig of "matched" memory (either two 8 gig sticks or four 4 gig sticks).

Is this true??????

Can I just add two more sticke or ?????

If I can't then why not?  What will happen if I try to do this?

Thanks so much ..... Mike

[banhien]

@xtal_01

Machine supports 32GB of RAM (4 x 8GB). To get to 16GB you can use 4 x 4GB or 2 x 8GB. Your friend tells the true, you need matching 4 or matching 2. Which one is cheaper, please go gor it.

Regards. 

[xtal_01]

When you say matchine ... why?

If I have two stickes of 4 in two slots now, why can't I buy two more sticks of 4 gig  (no matter what brand as long as they are 1600 non ecc) and put them into the two empty slots?

Mike

[xtal_01]

Looking at the new Crucial memory, I was about to say I just can't afford this computer .... 16 gig would be about $160!

BUT .... looking at ebay ....

Could you tell me if either of these two would work? I tried to look for a HP part number for the required memory (looked through the two manuals found online) but could not find a part number.

[url]https://www.ebay.com/itm/Micron-16GB-4x4GB-PC3L-12800-1600MHz-1-35V-DDR3-Non-ECC-HP-698650-154/37222...]

[url]https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Ramaxel-4GB-PC3L-12800U-DDR3-1600MHz-1Rx8-non-ECC-Unbuffered-LV-HP-698650...]

At $100 ... it is only $20 more then I was going to pay for 8 gig of new crucial memory.

Thanks so much again for all your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Save me from a big mistake!

Mike

[Mitchka]

Hi Mike,

I just bought a couple of these and even though the i7-4790 does not support ECC ram  the Desktops came with ECC 

ram. The machine takes either regular desktop ram and ECC.   If the CPU does not support ECC and they are installed they will be seen as regular ram.

You cannot mix regular and ECC ram. So first physically check which one you have if it 12800E the E signifies EEC

If it is just regular ram, 12800U,  just buy two sticks of the micron ram and it will work just fine.

Other wise look for HP  12800E ram get two sticks and you will be fine.

https://www.ebay.com/p/Genuine-HP-RAM-4gb-Micron-1rx8-Pc3-12800u-698650-154-Ddr3/1538797768?iid=3722...

There are two memory channels the two sticks will be in channel 1. You dont have to have the same brand in channel 2 

just make sure it tis the same speed,  Check the link below

http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA4-8300ENW

Cheers,

Zoran

[Mitchka]

Not sure why your freind said to throw away the ram  but I mix ram  between the channels all the time.

HP use differnet ram supply as do all the other brands they just put a  HP stickers on them.

So if you want to be on the safe side just search  on ebay and buy HP branded  ram of the same speed. 

But if it was me I would have no issue also purchasing Dell or Lenovo branded ram of the same speed.

[xtal_01]

Thanks for the replay!

In the  end, I went "nuts".  I found this on ebay: Ballistix 32GB 1600MHz PC3-12800 DDR3 (BLS4KIT8G3D1609DS1S00;BLS8G3D1609DS1S00)

32 gig  of memory for $144 .... man am I getting old ... I was thrilled to have 256K in my XT!

I also ended up adding this video card: MSI GTX 1060 AERO ITX 6G OC Graphic Cards  ....... $220

I paid $200 for the computer.

Total invested $564

And I must say I love it!

I am running windows 10 pro 64 bit

I have office on it.

Autocad 2018

Sweethome (3d home design program)

Everything runs fantastic!

Thanks again .... Mike