Dual channel ram with different speeds

[Jakub1221]

I want to add 2 rams sticks to my rig with 4gb each, now i have 2 sticks (8gb total) in dual channel mode with timings 11-11-11-28 and i want to buy 2 new sticks and use them in dual channel too, however these new rams have different timings 10-10-10-30, so will these new rams work with the old ones? My motherboard is M5A97 R2.0

 

[kanewolf]

Mixing RAM is hit or miss at best. There are hundreds of threads on this board with people that have purchased two kinds of RAM and have nothing but trouble. Vendors sell matched sets for a reason. You should buy a matched set of the size you desire to minimize problems.

 

[madmatt30]

set the timings manually in bios to 11-11-11-30 & theres a 99.9999% certainty theyll work
yo may be able to tighten the timings by experimenting

 

[Tradesman1]

Closer to 50/50, they may play, they might not. The forums are full of people trying to mix sets of DRAM, often the same exact model and having problems galore.

 

[madmatt30]

Closer to 50/50, they may play, they might not. The forums are full of people trying to mix sets of DRAM, often the same exact model and having problems galore.

& yet I've had a 100% success rate 'eventually' - whether its luck or a steadfast refusal to give up or maybe a mix of both I dont know,
Admittedly it takes time,patience & an understanding of timings & latencies.Its far easier to buy the right amount of ram in the first place & running 4 sticks on an amd board & achieveing dual channel is a pain anyway.

Its an expensive proposition dumping 2 sticks & buying a pair of 8gb's unless you can sell the old ones on or transplant them to another build though.

 

[Tradesman1]

Maybe you can help all the people having all these problems then 😉 Feel free to hop in and help with the voltage and timing changes needed. I spend a good part of my time in the forums doing just that and it's often because people tell others that "yeah, no problem, just add more DRAM", or "sure it will work"....when in fact there are sets that just won't play period, then there's those mixing XMP and PnP based DRAM, high density and low density sticks, can go on and on.....

It can also be very expensive to buy a set to mix, and find out they don't work (despite a 99.9999% guarantee from some helper), and they have to pay return postage, re-stocking fees, time lost to not having the additional DRAM, etc., and that's if the re/e-tailer even offers refunds (which many don't). And then too, there's also the time factor in getting sticks to play that are balky, I've helped people over the course of a full day or more getting sticks to work - and I'm sure most would have rather spent the additional $50+ dollars for a full set that works rather than spend 4-6-8 or more hours of their time trying this and that..... I know my time is more expensive than that