How to add DDR4 ram in desktop?

[gychang]

My main rig is pretty fast with 8G of RAM but since I do video editing in FP64, would like to add more RAM. I have DELL Precision Tower 3620 with DDR4 total of 8G with 2400 speed (each RAM 4G occupying 2 slots, with 2 more slots available). Locally there is 2 sticks of 4G DDR4, 2400 speed that is being sold at a good price. Will this RAM be compatible as long as DDR4 and speed is correct?

[bigpup]

Most likely it will work.

This is an example RAM stick found on a web site offering RAM for your computer.

4GB DDR4 PC4-19200 2400MHz DIMM NON-ECC Unbuffered 288pin 1.2V CL15 Single-rank

Important specs are 2400MHZ 288pin 1.2v. CL is no big issue, as long as you can get two sticks with the same CL number.

I assume this is a RAM duel channel motherboard.

Should be 4 slots for memory.
2 slots one color.
2 slots a different color.

Best if the RAM sticks are a matched set of 2.
Same brand, model, and specs.

Typical install of Ram sticks:
.

Screenshot(1).jpg (66.5 KiB) Viewed 218 times

[gychang]

Most likely it will work.

4GB DDR4 PC4-19200 2400MHz DIMM NON-ECC Unbuffered 288pin 1.2V CL15 Single-rank

Important specs are 2400MHZ 288pin 1.2v. CL is no big issue, as long as you can get two sticks with the same CL number.

Screenshot(1).jpg

thanks for the info. Local sticks are ECC (not NON-ECC) so I will assume not compatible.

[mikewalsh]

@gychang :-

Despite everybody insisting that you should always run the fastest RAM possible - I believe DDR4 can go up to 3200MHz/3600MHz? - I've always found 2400 MHz to be perfectly adequate to the task of video editing.

When I bought this HP Pavilion mid-tower back in January 2020, after the old Compaq rig had finally expired, it came with just 4 GB DDR4; two slots available, but just one 4 GB stick installed. During the first year of the pandemic, that first got increased to 8 GB (2 x 4 GB).....then to 16 GB (2 x 8 GB), and eventually in November, I found a really good deal at Amazon on a Crucial 32 GB 'kit' (2 x 16 GB), for barely more than I paid Crucial for a 16 GB kit earlier in the year..!

Needless to say, I grabbed it.....especially since 32 GB is the maximum for this 'Lincs' 843b mobo. At that price, it was too good to pass up.

I could have gone for faster RAM, but it would have been a waste of money, given that the max supported speed is only 2400MHz anyway. Anything faster would have only got throttled back...

And it's not JUST the RAM clock speed. This Pentium G5400 is nominally dual-core, technically quad-core 'cos of HyperThreading, but it runs at nearly 4 GHz, and has a full modern set of CPU instructions (including virtualization, should I want to run a VM). Combine all that with the recently purchased 1 TB Crucial MX500 SSD, and from its humble, basic original configuration, it's now a killer machine for just about anything I could want it for.

So; to answer your question, the main thing is to make sure the clock speeds match.....and if you can keep all 4 sticks the same speed AND capacity, it should run in dual-channel mode (which is always good for a bit more speed and reliability).

Mike.

[mikewalsh]

@gychang :-

Greg, you definitely do NOT want ECC RAM. This is intended for server applications, or for anywhere in enterprise that has an absolutely critical need for data to be continuously monitored & verified to be correct. ECC refers to "error-checking", and consists of an additional "parity" chip on the stick.

These can explain it better than I can :-

https://www.crucial.com/support/article ... vs-non-ecc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECC_memory

Mike.

[gychang]

@gychang :-

Greg, you definitely do NOT want ECC RAM. This is intended for server applications, or for anywhere in enterprise that has an absolutely critical need for data to be continuously monitored & verified to be correct. ECC refers to "error-checking", and consists of an additional "parity" chip on the stick.

Mike.

thanks Mike.

[bigpup]

I just checked the memory Dell sales for this computer.
It is non-ECC memory.
So would be best to get that kind.

It is kind of maybe it will work or maybe it will not, mixing non-ECC and ECC memory.
Depends on the motherboard and memory control chip on it.
May simply disable the ECC error checking and work OK.

[gychang]

I just checked the memory Dell sales for this computer.
It is non-ECC memory.
So would be best to get that kind.

It is kind of maybe it will work or maybe it will not, mixing non-ECC and ECC memory.
Depends on the motherboard and memory control chip on it.
May simply disable the ECC error checking and work OK.

these things can be complicated..., thanks for the info.

[bigpup]

What was the cost of this memory you were looking to add?

[mikewalsh]

I will add here that - in MY experience - RAM is not something to skimp on.

Don't, whatever you do, buy the cheap'n'cheerful stuff that's ten-a-penny on places like eBay & Gumtree. Invariably, as I've found out to my cost, it's usually the 'seconds' that have been rejected as unfit for purpose by the more reputable companies.

You buy this stuff, you WANT it to work.....without hassle. So be prepared to spend a bit more on it; it is, after all, a critical component without which no computer ever built will work.

Mike.

[gychang]

I will add here that - in MY experience - RAM is not something to skimp on.

Mike.

sounds like a good advice...