Please sir, can I have some more

[BWMerlin]

Hi, I currently have 4GB worth of RAM using this http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=45 and I want to move up to 8GB worth of RAM in total. I do not have any idea how RAM timings work but to move from 4GB to 8GB do I need to purchase RAM with the same timings and voltages? If I purchase another 4GB and it doesn't have the same timings and voltages do I need to adjust one or the other pairs to match or will the motherboard take care of that?

My main use of the system at the moment is vmware workstation (which is why I want more RAM to throw at the VM's), movies, very lite gaming (Starcraft 2 and WOW), and web surfing so I don't feel I need top speed RAM, just something is going to work happily until I replace my rig next year with with an Intel 2011 CPU.

What RAM should I keep an eye out for (brand, timing and anything else I need to pay attention to)?

My main system specs are.

Windows Vista Ultimate SP2 64bit
ASUS P5K Pro
4GB G.Skill PC2-6400
2 x 500 Segate RAID 1
MSI?? 9800GT OC
Intel Core Duo E8200

Here is my CPU-Z report for what it's worth.

Edit: removed as code tags don't have their own scroll window.

 

[tecmo34]

Ideally, you want the same exact model number as the current pair of memory. If you can't get the same exact pair, you want the same MHz, timings and voltage, as you are currently running. These two options will give you your best chance of not have possible issues.

You can purchase different memory (MHz, timings & voltage) but let's not go down that road, unless needed.

 

[BWMerlin]

Ideally, you want the same exact model number as the current pair of memory. If you can't get the same exact pair, you want the same MHz, timings and voltage, as you are currently running. These two options will give you your best chance of not have possible issues.

You purchase different memory (MHz, timings & voltage) but let's not go down that road, unless needed.

I have managed to find some similar ram from G.Skill (http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=62) on newegg.com Is there likely to be a problem using 4GB sticks in combination with my 2GB sticks for a total of 12GB (2x4GB + 2x2GB)? Newegg is currently out of stock of the 8GB paired set, is ordering 2 of the 4GB individuals and pairing them myself just as good as getting pre-paired set or am I best waiting till/if the 8GB paired set comes back into stock?

 

[tecmo34]

You have one tiny issue with your plan... Your motherboard only accepts a max of 8GB, so without reading the QVL, I would say that is 2GB per DIMM, meaning it won't support 4GB sticks. Your best option would be to try and find 4GB (2x2GB) that match or get an 8GB (4x2GB) set to replace all your memory (my recommendation), which is probably the safest bet.

 

[BWMerlin]

You have one tiny issue with your plan... Your motherboard only accepts a max of 8GB, so without reading the QVL, I would say that is 2GB per DIMM, meaning it won't support 4GB sticks. Your best option would be to try and find 4GB (2x2GB) that match or get an 8GB (4x2GB) set to replace all your memory (my recommendation), which is probably the safest bet.

Thanks I just checked the QVL and my RAM that I have now is not even listed and only one RAM is listed as being supported at 2048MB. I can get some G.Skill DDR2 4G(2x2G)PC6400 800Mhz(F2-6400CL5D-4GBNT) cheap so I might get two lots of that and be done with it.

 

[tecmo34]

That would be your best bet to try... I can't say with 100% certainty they will work correctly since they might not be on the QVL but doesn't always mean it won't (your current RAM being proof positive 😀 ).