Can you use 2 types of RAM?

[MrNamless]

Just need to know if two types of RAM will work. Thanks.

 

[ksham]

Define "types".

 

[MrNamless]

Define "types".

Either brands or the speed (1600 or 1333) or what ever...

 

[SchizTech]

Two sticks of different frequency may work together, though if you mix two speeds the board will run the RAM at the lower of the two speeds. As to other criteria it can be uncertain. It's safer to match the sticks, and best to get matched sets. That is, if you want two sticks of 4 GB, buy them as a set of two in a box and install together.

What is your situation? Are you thinking about upgrading an existing PC/laptop?

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

RAM needs to be run at a common frequency and be of like technology. In other words, you don't run something like DDR2 or DDR3 system RAM together, and while required timings may be different between various memory sticks in the system, so long as timings are all kept in a range compatible to all of the sticks being used, you can go that route. Understand that if you are running one stick at speed X, expect all sticks in that bank to run at speed X.

There is no guarantee the BIOS will set the RAM timing to the lowest common denominator. It may take the first SPD it comes to and time things off of that. If planning to run mismatched RAM sticks, I strongly recommend reading up on how to time the important parts manually, or at least, verify they are all running at compatible speeds.

 

[MrNamless]

Two sticks of different frequency may work together, though if you mix two speeds the board will run the RAM at the lower of the two speeds. As to other criteria it can be uncertain. It's safer to match the sticks, and best to get matched sets. That is, if you want two sticks of 4 GB, buy them as a set of two in a box and install together.

What is your situation? Are you thinking about upgrading an existing PC/laptop?

Well, Im upgrading my mobo and CPU (ASRock Z77 Extreme4 and i5 3570K) and it comes with 1 stick of 8 GB RAM at 1600 (Crucial RAM) And currently have 2 sticks of 4GB RAM at 1333.(Not sure of brand)

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

So, you're wanting to run 1x 8GB and 2x 4GB? Bad idea, as you'll force the system into single channel mode, which will torpedo your RAM's speed. You need to have matched pairs to run in dual channel mode. I would recommend just using the 2x 4GB sticks, and in the future if you need, then upgrade to another matched pair.

 

[MrNamless]

So, you're wanting to run 1x 8GB and 2x 4GB? Bad idea, as you'll force the system into single channel mode, which will torpedo your RAM's speed. You need to have matched pairs to run in dual channel mode. I would recommend just using the 2x 4GB sticks, and in the future if you need, then upgrade to another matched pair.

It's no bigie It comes free with the mobo so I can just give the 4GB ones to my freind.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

What I'm recommending is, run the pair of 4GB sticks, so you have 8GB in dual channel, rather than using a single 8GB stick in single channel. You will be ahead, performance wise.

 

[MrNamless]

What I'm recommending is, run the pair of 4GB sticks, so you have 8GB in dual channel, rather than using a single 8GB stick in single channel. You will be ahead, performance wise.

Ok, thanks for the advice. 😀

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

More than welcome! 🙂