Single 8GB stick vs dual-channel 16GB: Matching is key for the cheapest upgrade

Adding a second identical 8GB stick for dual-channel gives a real 10-20% performance gain in memory-sensitive tasks, but only if you match speed, timings, and voltage exactly. If you can’t find an exact match or the price is close to a kit, just buy a 2x8GB kit and sell the old stick — mixing mismatched RAM forces slower speeds and risks instability.