Adding Ram To New System

I have a refurbished HP Z420 workstation computer; It came loaded with 8mgs ram. I need to add more ram and would like to increase the total to at least 16 - preferably more. it seems that what is currently installed is
2 4mg stick running at 10,600? DDR3 - unbuffered.

I've been looking for ram but the 16mg sticks are all higher speeds. It has been my experience (which is little) that you can't mix speeds.

could someone tell me what to get? these are the specs according to the merchant:
1 × HP Z420 Workstation Desktop Computer PC Intel Xeon 2.8GHZ 8GB 1TB Win10 Pro and WIFI

I have additional questions but I think I need a different forum for those

thank you in advance

 

meant 8 gb (2*4's)

 

Higher speed RAM typically is not a problem. If otherwise compatible, it will simply throttle down and run at the highest supported speed, as determined by the system (motherboard and CPU). If you add faster RAM to existing RAM, all RAM will run at the slowest RAM speed installed that is compatible with the system.

Most popular RAM makers have auto-scanning and/or manual entry "RAM wizards" to help you determine which RAM is compatible with your motherboard. For auto-scanning, just download and run their scanner. It will determine your board. For manual entry, enter/select the PC or motherboard make and model number. Once the scan is complete, the wizard will list compatible RAM.

I typically recommend starting with the Crucial Memory Advisor. Note you don't have to buy directly from Crucial, but if you do buy suggested RAM from them, they guarantee compatibility.

And just for the record, I recently bought some additional RAM for my notebook and it was actually cheaper directly from Crucial compared to the exact same RAM from Amazon. It was only $2 cheaper, but still. And that was with free shipping.

 

thank you. I did run the Crucial scan. they didn't show any available ram for my system at that point but did say they restock in 5-7 days, so I will check back. thank you. yes I also found they were less $$ than the suggested retailers they offer.
thank you.

 

I am not clear what you mean. Are they saying they don't make compatible RAM, or they do make it, but they just are out of stock right now?

And for sure you don't have to go with Crucial. In addition to the Crucial wizard there is also,

Corsair Memory Finder (manual data entry only)
G.SKILL RAM Configurator
Kingston Memory Search (manual data entry only)
Patriot Memory Finder (manual data entry only)
​

The following retailers have auto-scanners and manual wizards. They sell brand name and/or "house" brand (re-branded) RAM.

MemoryStock - Upgrade Configurator
18004Memory – Configurator
4AllMemory - Memory advisor (automatic and manual)
Newegg - Memory Finder Tool
​

 

]I am not clear what you mean. Are they saying they don't make compatible RAM, or they do make it, but they just are out of stock right now?
They did a scan, but based on the scan did not have any available stock at crucial. they did give me links to amazon and a couple of other places.

typically crucial has better pricing, so I thought I'd wait, but the scan I did, only showed one slot with ram. but running a Belarc scan - it showed both. talked to CS at crucial and he looked up the scan number and he was able to see 2 sticks. what I don't know is what speed they're running at. I just want to make sure I order the correct ram. I'm hoping to upgrade from 8 gb to 16 but didn't think I could mix speeds. so I can't order a 12,800 and put it in with my 10,600.

for some reason the type and speed I'm looking for is more expensive than other speeds and trying to determine why that is?

thank you all in advance.

 

Read this, from a previous post:

 

I tried every link you sent but none of them do a scan that I was able to find. so far crucial is the only one that will scan my system and show me what I have.

 

thank you. I'll check it out.

 

The diagram for the inside of your case shows the order to install your RAM.
* the sticker states only use HP approved RAM, I used to think that didn't matter (like 99% of the time), but I put other RAM into a system & now I get warnings it is not "approved" RAM, still works fine after you ignore that message.

 

What type of ram did you put in that gave you the error? Non ECC when it says to use ECC or Buffered when it say to use Non buffered? just curious.

 

It was the correct RAM just not their approved RAM...

 

Ordered some ram from EBAY. 4 8gb sticks - faster than what I had - so I removed my slower 8gb (2x4). will give those to my son who has the same system and has the original slower speed. I had to approve the new memory configuration at bootup - but then recognized the ram.

All is good. Thanks to everyone.