Upgrading memory - mixing two different brands ?

[Haveri]

Hey guys,

I just like to verify it before upgrading, someone referred me to Crucial scanner website where the web scans your laptop model and memory and suggests your possible memory upgrades.

My current memory stick (the one I received my laptop with) is made by samsung, so would it be safe to buy an additional Crucial memory stick, as long as the configurations (speed, voltage etc.) are identical? 

 

Or there is something else I need to take into account?

Thanks in advance

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

3 minutes ago, Haveri said:

Hey guys,

I just like to verify it before upgrading, someone referred me to Crucial scanner website where the web scans your laptop model and memory and suggests your possible memory upgrades.

My current memory stick (the one I received my laptop with) is made by samsung, so would it be safe to buy an additional Crucial memory stick, as long as the configurations (speed, voltage etc.) are identical? 

 

Or there is something else I need to take into account?

Thanks in advance

It will not run in dual channel. But if you just need more memory and your tasks don't benefit from dual channel operation, then it shouldn't be a problem. In rare cases mixing memory can cause instability. To check, run MemTest86, the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, or a memory test in your laptop's diagnostic menu if you have one. 

[Haveri]

1 minute ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

It will not run in dual channel. But if you just need more memory and your tasks don't benefit from dual channel operation, then it shouldn't be a problem. In rare cases mixing memory can cause instability. To check, run MemTest86, the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, or a memory test in your laptop's diagnostic menu if you have one. 

Hello thank you for your answer, why won't it run in dual channel? Just because the additional memory is not by samsung? I'm trying to pick up the right memory and cannot really test without committing to it... Thanks again

[mariushm]

He's wrong, it SHOULD run in dual channel  mode, but there is no 100% guarantee.

The problem with sticks with different chips is that each stick with have different presets which contain some timings and chips from one stick may be more picky about some timings compared to the chips from the other sticks.

So, the bios will be very conservative and pick the loosest, most compatible timings that are supported by both sticks, or in extreme cases (very rare) will refuse to start with two different sticks.

 

Crucial is Micron's brand, and Micron is a very large manufacturer of memory, so I'd say they're fairly well supported by bioses and motherboard manufacturers and I doubt you're gonna have issues if you mix it with Samsung sticks.

 

[Haveri]

6 hours ago, mariushm said:

He's wrong, it SHOULD run in dual channel  mode, but there is no 100% guarantee.

The problem with sticks with different chips is that each stick with have different presets which contain some timings and chips from one stick may be more picky about some timings compared to the chips from the other sticks.

So, the bios will be very conservative and pick the loosest, most compatible timings that are supported by both sticks, or in extreme cases (very rare) will refuse to start with two different sticks.

 

Crucial is Micron's brand, and Micron is a very large manufacturer of memory, so I'd say they're fairly well supported by bioses and motherboard manufacturers and I doubt you're gonna have issues if you mix it with Samsung sticks.

 

Thank you very much just one last question please, would you say the same about Kingston (with the same configurations)? Crucial is less available in my country

 

Thanks again in advance