Combining RAM, 1600 with 1333

[mauran13]

Hello,
I have a question regarding combining RAM of different speeds. From the information I have encountered it seems a terrible idea to combine 1600 and 1333 memory together. Is that true? If so, what is the reason?

Also, say I purchased 2 4gb sticks of DDR3 1333 Ram and then 2 4gb sticks of DDR3 1600 Ram and put them all on my motherboard. does that work?

 

[emad_ramlawi]

its not terrible per say, but your RAM will operate on the lower value as fail safe method, in your example both RAM sticks will operate on 1600 and 1333

Also another more important detial, plz dont mix Voltages, for example having 1.5v ram and another 1.65v that affects stability, its much better to try to replicate your first original ram dim for better stability.

 

[mauran13]

its not terrible per say, but your RAM will operate on the lower value as fail safe method, in your example both RAM sticks will operate on 1600 and 1333

Also another more important detial, plz dont mix Voltages, for example having 1.5v ram and another 1.65v that affects stability, its much better to try to replicate your first original ram dim for better stability.

Do you mean all four will operate at 1333 or that the two 1600 will operate at 1600 and the two 1333 will operate 1333?

 

[gbryan101]

You can improve the chances of the whole thing being stable if the CAS latency, timings, and voltage are the same. As said above, your motherboard will most likely just underclock the faster modules to the lower speed. Nothing is really set and fast so far as RAM goes. Two different RAM sticks with identical specs may or may not be compatible, but these chances are better than two very different sticks.

 

[emad_ramlawi]

its not terrible per say, but your RAM will operate on the lower value as fail safe method, in your example both RAM sticks will operate on 1600 and 1333

Also another more important detial, plz dont mix Voltages, for example having 1.5v ram and another 1.65v that affects stability, its much better to try to replicate your first original ram dim for better stability.

Do you mean all four will operate at 1333 or that the two 1600 will operate at 1600 and the two 1333 will operate 1333?

Hmm interesting question in theory if you have dual channel mobo, 2 will operate at 1333 and the other as 1600

Cause each channel regulates 2 Dim slots

However i am not 100% sure to say the truth, if you wana try that, please make sure that the voltage of the 1600 is 1.5V and i reckon may work ...

 

[maddogfargo]

Your motherboard manufacturer is the best source of information on this topic. No joke. Contact them and ask before you do anything.

 

[Tradesman1]

No they won't operate at different freqs, that's ridiculous....It's either they drop and run at 1333 or you set a manual OC and run all at 1600 - and either way, that's only if they WILL PLAY together. It's never a good idea to purchase and mix sticks, too great a possibility of being problematic....With different freq sticks one set will be out of spec which generally requires additional voltage(s) and cna equal more heat also