Hi,
I have a Framework Laptop 13th gen Intel, running Fedora Bluefin. I now have 24GB of RAM and I’m looking to expand that. On a local secondhand website (I’m in Belgium) I found this RAM: G.Skill DDR4 SODIMM Ripjaws 32GB 3200MHz.
I don’t know much about this, I thought the DDR4, SODIMM, 32GB and 3200Mhz are all correct specifications for my laptop? Or are there other things to check?
I searched also if it’s possible to use 2 different amounts of RAM and I think that was OK.
Do you have a single 24GB stick currently? Or 2x12?
Generally it is a good idea to pair identical sticks (same brand/model/size). Mixing different manufacturers/sizes can reduce speed and reliability, though it will likely still work.
If you currently have a 24GB stick, I’d prerably try to buy another identical stick from the same manufacturer (to get 48GB in total). Otherwise you’d have to compromise and either get mismatches ram or buy another pair (and e.g. sell the old stick).
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Thank you @Jonathan_Haas . I read that recommendation, but then also people denying it 
Though call :+)
DDR4 isn’t as picky as DDR5, and generally you want all memory on a single channel to be from the same kit, but I think you’ll be alright.
Did you bring your own 24GB stick?
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I looked it up just now, its 16GB + 8GB (so not the same already). I bought this FrameWork secondhand, I don’t know if it’s the original RAM.
sudo lshw -c memory
*-memory
description: System Memory
physical id: 18
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 24GiB
*-bank:0
description: SODIMM DDR4 Synchronous 3200 MHz (0,3 ns)
product: CMSX16GX4M1A3200C22
vendor: Corsair
physical id: 0
serial: 00000000
slot: Controller0-ChannelA-DIMM0
size: 16GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 3200MHz (0.3ns)
*-bank:1
description: SODIMM DDR4 Synchronous 3200 MHz (0,3 ns)
product: CT8G4SFRA32A.C8FP
vendor: Crucial Technology
physical id: 1
serial: E80E5D86
slot: Controller1-ChannelA-DIMM0
size: 8GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 3200MHz (0.3ns)
My previous reply still stands. You can of course keep (mis-)matching different sticks, but you may get lower performance and possibly (unlikely, but possible) instability. Or you can buy a matched pair of new sticks (e.g. 2x32GB) if money isn’t super important and you want optimal performance and stability.
In my experience mixed memory can be harder to get working but once it works it isn’t any less reliable than matched. Overclocking mixed sticks would be total hell though.
Having a bit of dual channel gives you a big boost to the igpu performance and most cpu tasks don’t care anywhere near as much.
Imo if it works and you don’t need more just leave it, otherwise just get a matched kit.
(I did try mixing a 16gb crucial 4800mhz stick and a 32gb kingston 5600mhz one in my amd framework 13 and that worked just fine)
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Money is important, that’s why I’m looking what’s available secondhand :-)
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What would I notice if it’s not working?
I hope I notice a bit more speed when doing processor intensive tasks.
I’m not planning to overclock or try other experimental stuff :^)
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Most like it won’t boot at all with bad RAM inserted, like you’d just get a black screen when trying to turn it on.
Since you’re trying to safe money you can definitely try to get random cheap RAM, just be aware that there is a small probability that it doesn’t work and that you may waste your money (if you can’t return it, which is often the case with second hand stuff).
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Mostly either not posting or ignoring one of the sticks (overwhelmingly option 1).
You almost certainly won’t. The difference is measurable but pretty small.
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I didn’t know what that ment, so I looked it up: “RAM is not posting, means that the computer fails to complete the POST (Power-On Self-Test) due to a problem with the installed RAM.”
I also looked up I can use memtester to test failing RAM.
You mean because I don’t use the same brand and/or amount of RAM in both slots? Or in general? I wouldn’t believe the last, because then you are saying it’s no use increasing your RAM.
That’s true. If it doesn’t work with 16 and 32, I could also try also replacing the 16 with 32 (next month for instance, when my new salary has been deposited )
If you fail post you usually (some manufacturers have done some black magic to display stuff in the past but it’s not common) don’t even get to a bios screen so it is relatively obvious if it doesn’t work.
Percieved performance in general from matched vs mismatched ram (as long as it works). Of course if you straight up not have enough ram that’s a whole other issue but that has nothing to do with mixing ram or not.
That sounds like a reasonable approach assuming you can find a single stick of 32 that isn’t just a mislabeled 2x16 kit and the price per gb isn’t massively higher than a 2x32 kit.
Hi,
The FW laptops can be a bit fussy about RAM, so I would recommend sticking to RAM that FW have tested.
Here are some links:
OK, it worked, the new RAM-stick is recognized. I used memtest86+ to test my RAM, because I thought it would give me some information about performance, but that’s not the case.
So now I only have my subjective impression about performance . Nothing broke, that’s a good start.
For some reason, the 32GB stick didn’t fit in the channel 1 slot (and Channel 0 and 1 are labelled wrong, I think).
@James3 The G Skill brand is not on this list , is it usefull to report it’s working (just “working” is not the same as “tested and approved” of course)?
sudo dmidecode -t memory
# dmidecode 3.6
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 3.4 present.
Handle 0x0018, DMI type 16, 23 bytes
Physical Memory Array
Location: System Board Or Motherboard
Use: System Memory
Error Correction Type: None
Maximum Capacity: 64 GB
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Number Of Devices: 2
Handle 0x0019, DMI type 17, 92 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x0018
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 32 GB
Form Factor: SODIMM
Set: None
Locator: Controller0-ChannelA-DIMM0
Bank Locator: BANK 0
Type: DDR4
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 3200 MT/s
Manufacturer: G Skill Intl
Serial Number: 11190629
Asset Tag: 9876543210
Part Number: F4-3200C22-32GRS
Rank: 2
Configured Memory Speed: 3200 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: Unknown
Maximum Voltage: Unknown
Configured Voltage: 1.2 V
Memory Technology: DRAM
Memory Operating Mode Capability: Volatile memory
Firmware Version: Not Specified
Module Manufacturer ID: Bank 5, Hex 0xCD
Module Product ID: Unknown
Memory Subsystem Controller Manufacturer ID: Unknown
Memory Subsystem Controller Product ID: Unknown
Non-Volatile Size: None
Volatile Size: 32 GB
Cache Size: None
Logical Size: None
Handle 0x001A, DMI type 17, 92 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x0018
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 16 GB
Form Factor: SODIMM
Set: None
Locator: Controller1-ChannelA-DIMM0
Bank Locator: BANK 0
Type: DDR4
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 3200 MT/s
Manufacturer: Corsair
Serial Number: 00000000
Asset Tag: 9876543210
Part Number: CMSX16GX4M1A3200C22
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 3200 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: Unknown
Maximum Voltage: Unknown
Configured Voltage: 1.2 V
Memory Technology: DRAM
Memory Operating Mode Capability: Volatile memory
Firmware Version: Not Specified
Module Manufacturer ID: Bank 3, Hex 0x9E
Module Product ID: Unknown
Memory Subsystem Controller Manufacturer ID: Unknown
Memory Subsystem Controller Product ID: Unknown
Non-Volatile Size: None
Volatile Size: 16 GB
Cache Size: None
Logical Size: None
I have used G.Skill memory on a few Framework laptops and had success. As long as you are not getting the extreme timing DIMMs you should be fine as long as they are 3200MHz.
It is not always clear, the slots are oriented differently on the left and the right. On one side the chips will be face up the other side will be face down! Always use the notch to guide your orientation of the modules. Glad you got it working.
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