Question Two different brands of ram but same specs

[Hundenabbe]

I've got 2x4GB of DDR3 Kingston Hyperx Genesis ram 1600mhz and I want to upgrade to 16gb. Can I buy another pair of 2x4GB 1600mhz ram although it's not made by kingston? It would suck to buy 2x8gb of ram just to throw the other ones away.
There are rams made by Hyperx but I'm not sure if it is the same branding since Kingston isn't labeled.

Mobo: MSI G45 Z87

 

[rgd1101]

sometime it work, sometime it doesn't

 

[Hundenabbe]

sometime it work, sometime it doesn't

Shizzle, so I'm better of just buying 16gb of new ram?

 

[InvalidError]

Different RAM should work together in theory but aren't guaranteed to by anyone and may require extra fudging around (reducing clocks, increasing timings/latency, tweaking voltages, etc.) to get to work.

 

[geofelt]

Shizzle, so I'm better of just buying 16gb of new ram?

Yes.

Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards, can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT guarantee ram that is not bought in one kit.

If you do buy more disparate sticks, they must be the same speed, voltage and cas numbers.
Even then your chances of working are less than 100%

What is your plan "B" if the new stick/s do not work?


If you want 16gb, my suggestion is to buy a 2 x 8gb kit that matches your current specs.
Then, try adding in your old 8gb,
If it works, good; you now have extra ram.
If not, sell the old ram or keep it as a spare.

 

[InvalidError]

If you do buy more disparate sticks, they must be the same speed, voltage and cas numbers.

Speed and timings do not need to match, you just end up with a higher probability of having to use the slowest of everything or possibly worse to get it to work.