Ram Upgrade from 8gb to 16gb help/advice?

[KENDAWG2000]

Hello tom'sHardware, in my current PC I am rocking 8 gigs of DDR3 ram (found here) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211857

I was looking into possibly upgrading to 16gb of ram but need some help.
There are many brands and such, I have heard that these 2 sets are quite good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231615&cm_re=16gb-_-20-231-615-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233540&cm_re=16gb-_-20-233-536-_-Product

Now my question is, are either of these sets good? Worth the price?
&
When it comes to upgrading my ram, is it just a replacement as if I was getting a new graphics card?
or
Is there more to upgrading ram in a system?

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks Again!
-Ken

 

[Tradesman1]

That's exactly what I said - there are no guarantees, in a review I just did, two manufacturers both sent me two 2 stick packs of their DRAM (identical model packages) and it took some playing to get them to work - I've also run into numerous instances of people buying identical sets and them not working together - mixing DRAM is a crapshoot, you can get identical sets that won't play and then too you can get two totally different sets that might play - simply no guarantees.

 

[Guest]

I understand Tradesman1,
I too have had a few problems in mixing but not many, when performed correctly. My biggest concern is that people do not adhere to the best Anti-Static procedures and unwittingly blow the memory to bits. At D.E.C, we once performed a anti-static test because certain engineers were constantly coming back to the service centre with D.O.A modules. We were shown x-rays of the integrated circuitry before and after each of the engineers had touched the modules bare handed. Amazing, I carried around 10.000 static volts but there were much higher. Nearly every engineer had blown a module of course those were the days of Peter Polyester, times have changed a bit.
I have sent a private message to KENDAWG2000 asking him to be aware of this.
Nice chatting, even if this thread is closed. Yokel

 

[KENDAWG2000]

Hi Tradesman1,
You came in late with that little shocker, moderator or not? there is no need to spread doom & gloom and scare the person.
After 35 years in the computer engineering business with D.E.C & I.B.M, I think I should know what I am talking about. Providing your mixed memory will both run at a given frequency & placed in the correct sequence in the motherboard there will be no problem. We can adjust frequency & voltages later, if necessary. Cheers.

Hi Tradesman1,
You came in late with that little shocker, moderator or not? there is no need to spread doom & gloom and scare the person.
After 35 years in the computer engineering business with D.E.C & I.B.M, I think I should know what I am talking about. Providing your mixed memory will both run at a given frequency & placed in the correct sequence in the motherboard there will be no problem. We can adjust frequency & voltages later, if necessary. Cheers.

Thanks for responding with support.
I think it was just a mis understanding,
He didnt scare me just made me re think.
In the end, I was planning on sticking with your knowledge on just getting a matching kit. I just wanted to see if he would think the same. I appreciate your knowledge and knowing that about you only further assures me. Still going with your reply. Ty once again
Ken

 

[KENDAWG2000]

Thanks again all.

 

[Tradesman1]

I understand Tradesman1,
I too have had a few problems in mixing but not many, when performed correctly. My biggest concern is that people do not adhere to the best Anti-Static procedures and unwittingly blow the memory to bits. At D.E.C, we once performed a anti-static test because certain engineers were constantly coming back to the service centre with D.O.A modules. We were shown x-rays of the integrated circuitry before and after each of the engineers had touched the modules bare handed. Amazing, I carried around 10.000 static volts but there were much higher. Nearly every engineer had blown a module of course those were the days of Peter Polyester, times have changed a bit.
I have sent a private message to KENDAWG2000 asking him to be aware of this.
Nice chatting, even if this thread is closed. Yokel

________________

Static has long been a problem, but I'm referring to DRAM in general, as I mentioned just look through the forums at all the problems people have encountered, including with the exact same models, then there's all the different makes of memory chips used in various DDR3, the chips are binned differently by manufacturers, over time the manufacturers of a given model may change the memory chips used in a model both by brand and density, i.e. there are 2Gb chips and most sticks today are made with high density 4Gb chips, Kingston has thrown a new parameter into play with the Fury line, instead of using XMP they use PnP..

Also pointed out where 2 identical sets were sent direct by manufacturers (2 different major DRAM makers) that didn't want to play. I know of no DRAM manufacture that will even suggest mixing sets of DRAM or will they guarantee that two of their sets will play together. That's why they test the sticks in a set and why sets with higher numbers of sticks often cost more than the same sticks in a 2x package - it takes more testing to find 4 sticks that will all play nice and to spec. If mixing was as easy as some seem to think the manufacturers would simply sell 1 stick packages and eliminate all the testing they do (and reap higher higher profits).

I don't know any reputable builders, IT pros, or techies that suggest buying DRAM to mix with other DRAM (or mobo, DRAM or CPU manufacturers), if you have it in hand, sure, give it a try, but if you buy it and get a set that won't play, then cost go up in return postage, restocking fees, and time lost - then too there's places that don't allow returns - then what?