Buy the 2x16GB kit.

Yes, get the matched pair.

Mixing a second stick with your existing one might work, but it’s a gamble. Even if same specs, different manufacturing batches or subtle timings can cause instability or force your system to run at slower speeds. A kit is guaranteed to work together.

You only get two slots, so you want them both filled with matched sticks for dual-channel performance. That’s a noticeable bump in speed for everyday tasks and gaming. Buying a single stick now risks leaving performance on the table.

The extra $20-30 is worth not troubleshooting random crashes later.