This has been my experience with most RAM at any rate. If it does, I bet the timings will be the same as your existing 1333MHz stick. When you start talking about anything visual (video, photography, gaming, etc.) or compute workloads you want more memory since you're dealing with fewer larger jobs that take up more time.ĭepending on the RAM, the 1600MHz stick likely has a profile for 1333MHz operation. While on the topic of 'what you use it for':įor general computing, faster is going to be better since your memory will be dealing with more smaller jobs. That said, memory prices, while higher than they were a few years ago, aren't insane, you can pick up good quality 16gb sets for about $150, depending on your laptop and what you use it for it might be an even better option.

When dealing with laptops you also need to keep in mind that many consumer laptops (and some low end business laptops) still don't support 1600mhz SO-DIMMs (it's crazy, i know) so you might never be able realize that speed anyway. If you were talking about going from 8gb of DDR2 anything, I'd say 4gb of 1600mhz is going to be better since it will still outperform the DDR2. Additionally it's what you do.īut you're talking about 8gb of 1333mhz vs 4gb of 1600mhz, the difference, while not negligible, is small enough that having more is going to be your best bet. As Matt said, it's all about what you're upgrading from.

8gb vs 16gb ram excel