RAM of different space and companies

[Ankita Goyal]

hi
i have 2 ddr2 RAMs of different companies ( one of 1gb and other one of 2gb), the 2gb one being of kingston. I added this 2 gb RAM a few days back only as one of the earlier RAMs stopped working.
Since then My system was not able to boot up. Streaks were displayed on the starting screen and it didn't go beyond that.

then i removed the 1 gb RAm and now its working fine.
I wanted to know what was the problem????

 

[Ubrales]

Ankita, welcome to Tom's Hardware Forums!

For RAM to work properly they have to match speeds (frequencies) and timings and voltages. When RAM is added, it must be of the same specs; identical. Matched sets are preferred.

 

[Ankita Goyal]

thanks...

 

[lunyone]

Ankita, welcome to Tom's Hardware Forums!

For RAM to work properly they have to match speeds (frequencies) and timings and voltages. When RAM is added, it must be of the same specs; identical. Matched sets are preferred.

This is usually the most common understanding, but I've found that if the RAM runs at stock voltages (1.8v in this case) the differences in speed aren't usually as critical, from my experience. Not all RAM sticks will mix and play well together, so generally your statement is true.

For example I just added 2 x 2gb's of CAS 6 SuperTalent to 2 x 1gb's of Cruicial CAS 4 RAM sticks. Both sets were sold as matched sets and were bought about 3 years apart Both are rated to run well at 1.8v and seem to be working just fine together. It does probably help that the mobo that they are running on, is a newer (more recent) AM3 mobo too

 

[hell_storm2004]

It is always advised to stick to the same set of RAM's for trouble free usage. The frequencies do get down-clocked to the lower one when there are two RAM's of different frequencies.

 

[Ubrales]

It is always advised to stick to the same set of RAM's for trouble free usage. The frequencies do get down-clocked to the lower one when there are two RAM's of different frequencies.

Yes. And I go one step further and ensure that the RAM is from the same manufacturer; same batch would be even better!

The last thing I want is intermittent and elusive problems that are the most difficult to solve!

 

[hell_storm2004]

Yeah! Some issues are so hard to pin point!

RAM's are more like Hansel and Gretel... they always go together! 😀

 

[Ubrales]

Yeah! Some issues are so hard to pin point!

RAM's are more like Hansel and Gretel... they always go together! 😀