[SOLVED] Can I use RAM of 2 different brands?

[Zepuu]

Can I use kingston ram and any other brand ram which are both DDR3 together? (Both also 4GB and 1333 MHz)
(My mobo is H61-N, which has 2 slots).

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

It can be a bit of a lottery mixing brands of RAM so best avoided. Buying a matched kit (ie supplied as pair) is the best policy.

 

[Calvin7]

You can use any combinations you want, it's just there is no guarantee they will be compatible together.

You can do your own compatibility testing, with no guarantees.

 

[SamirD]

While a matched set is preferred, especially for faster/newer ram, I've found that dd3 and below work well together if the specs match exactly. But this is for stock speeds, not anything else.

 

[MeeLee]

DDR4 with XMP is probably a no-go, but DDR3, as long as they support the same timings (Cas latencies) it should be fine.
You'll possibly get a speed boost from changing single to dual or dual to quad channel, but experience a performance penalty in having to set the memory modules to the lowest memory frequency or highest latency settings.
But it should still offer you a boost in performance.

 

[MurdyPlay]

Not sure about ddr4, but you can mix ddr3, and in 99% chance you are going to get working pc

 

[Zepuu]

It can be a bit of a lottery mixing brands of RAM so best avoided. Buying a matched kit (ie supplied as pair) is the best policy.

DOes that mean it may not work?

 

[Zepuu]

You can use any combinations you want, it's just there is no guarantee they will be compatible together.

You can do your own compatibility testing, with no guarantees.

How do I test for compatibility?

 

[Zepuu]

While a matched set is preferred, especially for faster/newer ram, I've found that dd3 and below work well together if the specs match exactly. But this is for stock speeds, not anything else.

What is stock speed?

 

[SamirD]

DOes that mean it may not work?

That is correct.

How do I test for compatibility?

Run something like memtest

What is stock speed?

The factory clocked speed==not overclocked

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

How do I test for compatibility?

Only way to test for compatibility of new RAM with existing RAM is to install it, then check that your PC boots successfully.

 

[SamirD]

Only way to test for compatibility of new RAM with existing RAM is to install it, then check that your PC boots successfully.

And this is after you read the specs on both to make sure they are the same or similar enough that they should work together in theory (like a 1333 and 1600 module should both work at 1333).