Adding Different Memory to Triple Channel

[kel619]

Hi guys, I have corsair XMS3 3x 2gb sticks in triple channel. My problem is, if i add more memory in the other slots of different capacity/brand/etc. Will it break my triple channel configuration?

 

Im thinking yes but im hoping it does not because i need more memory and still want the performance. (Dont have much budget, bout 60$ max)

 

Tnx. And sorry if its a repost tried searching but didnt find anything.

[joelthezombie15]

It wont hurt anything physically but i would advise against it cause it will be more trouble than its worth. Just get identical set and put that it.

[Thunderjolt]

Sell the sticks you have and buy 12gb triple channel kit if you can. Mixing and matching ram could end up with instability. 

[Leonard]

Mixing RAM is best left up to the PROs or people doing experiments. Either buy the exact triple channel RAM set or but two brand new triple channel RAM set. 

[airdeano]

Hi guys, I have corsair XMS3 3x 2gb sticks in triple channel. My problem is, if i add more memory in the other slots of different capacity/brand/etc. Will it break my triple channel configuration?

 

Im thinking yes but im hoping it does not because i need more memory and still want the performance. (Dont have much budget, bout 60$ max)

 

Tnx. And sorry if its a repost tried searching but didnt find anything.

 

what platform are you using? x58 (1366) or something else?

 

airdeano

[kel619]

Hi tnx for the replys. I am using x58, im running GA-x58a-ud3r with i7 920 with 3sticks of xms3 ddr3 1333MHz at 2gb each!

[kel619]

I heard that this motherboard has dual triple channel from what i understand I can run

 

Slot 1 - Triple Channel A

Slot 2 - Triple Channel B

 

Slot 3 - Triple Channel A

Slot 4 - Triple Channel B

 

Slot 5 - Triple Channel A

Slot 6 - Triple Channel B

Meaning that I can have Type X ram on triple channel A and type Y ram on triple channel B

Can anyone confirm my theory?

 

 

Tnx.

[kel619]

what platform are you using? x58 (1366) or something else?

 

airdeano

 

Hi tnx for the replys. I am using x58, im running GA-x58a-ud3r with i7 920 with 3sticks of xms3 ddr3 1333MHz at 2gb each!

[airdeano]

you can buy either:

another xms3 3x 2GB 1333MHz

3/6x 4GB 1333/1600 modules.

 

should be a lot of upgraded 1366 users to be able to find those combinations.

eBay especially..

 

airdeano

[kel619]

you can buy either:

another xms3 3x 2GB 1333MHz

3/6x 4GB 1333/1600 modules.

 

should be a lot of upgraded 1366 users to be able to find those combinations.

eBay especially..

 

airdeano

Yes thanks for info, im probbably going to buy 3x 4GB Kingston Hyper X Red/Blue @1600Mhz to go with my corsair 3x 2GB XMS3 1333Mhz

[airdeano]

be careful mixing RAM types. mixing 1333 with 1600 is a disaster. due to each needs different

DRAM voltages to function properly. go all 1333 or all 1600 less BSOD and mem fails.

 

airdeano

[kel619]

be careful mixing RAM types. mixing 1333 with 1600 is a disaster. due to each needs different

DRAM voltages to function properly. go all 1333 or all 1600 less BSOD and mem fails.

 

airdeano

 

Thnx, airdeano, ye thought some complications might arise. Just wanted some better performance from 1333 to 1600 but i guess its just benchies and wont feel the diff in real life.

 

Too bad its ganna cap my overclocking to 3.2 - 3.5 ghz..   (i7 920)

 

BTW was ganna mix these:

Corsair 6gb (3x2gb) 1333MHz  9-9-9-24  @1.5v   CMX6GX3M3A1333C9

 

with

Kingston 3x 4gb   KHX1600C9D3B1K2/4GX

 

• DDR3-1600 @ 9-9-9-27, 1.65v
• DDR3-1333 @ 9-9-9, 1.50v               I think it runs at 9-9-9-27
• Low Profile Aluminum Heat Spreader
• Lifetime Warranty

so even though I set them by default in bios to 1333 MHz it might still cause problems?

 

sorry for bothering you so much...

Edited June 26, 2013 by kel619

[airdeano]

sorry for bothering you so much...

 

not a bother at all...

 

you'd fair better with like brands and models..

 

mannies bin their chips differently and rate them differently. could have the same

voltage, timings, and speed, but the chips as a group may puke and bleed.

 

airdeano

[kel619]

sorry haven`t commented for a while, but your theory was proven correct as i borrowed a stick from my bro`s pc kingston with 9-9-9-27

 and loading a website was like 5 times slower...

 

Thanks for all the help.

[Builderman]

As the x58 chipset is getting renewed attention and there is a lot of “hearsay” about optimal memory configurations, I would like to inform you about my own experiences and tests. My advise is not to listen to hearsay, and to do your own research. In that way, I found out it is fine to mix and match different memory sizes and types, as long as they can make the same timings (weakest link determines the lowest timings). To preserve triple channel, you should achieve the same size PER CHANNEL. So it is fine to mix 2x2gb sticks on channels And B, and to use a single 4Gb stick on channel C. But it is not fine to use 4 4Gb sticks! Please use a benchmark tool for comparison. In the latter case, my ASUS p6t deluxe v2 reports 5,33 gb triple channel, but performance is crippled, because 1 stick is used for interleaving. When I use 3x (4+2=6gb) = 18gb, performance is much better (triple channel worthy), despite the uneven sizes. Conclusion: mixing and matching is fine on x58, as long as everything comes in 3’s. (4+2)x3 or (4+4)x3 or (8)x3. Please be advised and only believe the benchmarks!