RAM Compatiability?

[RhysMusique]

Hey guys, i really should know this, having built 3 PCs in the past, but I wanted to make double sure before I dropped some money on it...

If I already have a 2x4GB kit of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 CL9 RAM,
Can I upgrade with a 2x8GB kit of Corsair Vengeance Low Profile DDR3 CL9? 

It's a stupid question and theyre both 1600MHz CL9 DDR3, but I just needed a second opinion :L

Thanks, Rhys.

 

Edit: I'm upgrading to 24GB, using all 4 slots in a 4-8-4-8 configuration, not just swapping them out.

[You_are_a_cunt]

While they're the same latency and speed, it's still mixing and matching.

Do you really need to keep the 2x4GB kit? If you don't, you could just swap them out and possibly sell the kit, maybe put the money towards a second 2x8GB kit. If not, you'll probably be fine (although I don't really recommend using memory sticks that aren't, well, identical in all specs. but that's just me)

[RhysMusique]

5 minutes ago, revsilverspine said:

While they're the same latency and speed, it's still mixing and matching.

Do you really need to keep the 2x4GB kit? If you don't, you could just swap them out and possibly sell the kit, maybe put the money towards a second 2x8GB kit. If not, you'll probably be fine (although I don't really recommend using memory sticks that aren't, well, identical in all specs. but that's just me)

Hmm, so would it be worth possibly just saving a bit of money and getting another 2x4GB set, AND therefore is it advisable to get the Low Profile version of that 2x4GB set (Cooler height probs), is it just the same stick, just different heat spreader? It's probably gonna be my last RAM upgrade for this system in DDR3, so I'm not looking to spend and save. 
 

What are the complications that can occur when using non-identical sets of ram together?

[RhysMusique]

Anybody else got any input?

[You_are_a_cunt]

1 hour ago, RhysMusique said:

Hmm, so would it be worth possibly just saving a bit of money and getting another 2x4GB set, AND therefore is it advisable to get the Low Profile version of that 2x4GB set (Cooler height probs), is it just the same stick, just different heat spreader? It's probably gonna be my last RAM upgrade for this system in DDR3, so I'm not looking to spend and save. 
 

What are the complications that can occur when using non-identical sets of ram together?

Unless your tasks are high ram consumers, you could just go for anothe 2x4GB kit

 

As for complications, you'll probably start noticing them far later on. I've seen systems with mismatched modules (same frequency, same CAS rating, just different capacities) that have had the higher-cap ones be the first to go (no guarantee that it would happen to you), memory address errors (resulting in occasional BSODs). IIRC if you have mismatched channels (you'd be running 2x4GB on one channel and 2x8GB on the second), you're stuck with single channel. XMP is also out of the question most likely.

 

In what regards low profile and full profile: As far as I know if the specsheets only differ on the height, the ram sticks should be identical, just shorter. Not sure on that, though, would appreciate more input on that

[RhysMusique]

1 minute ago, revsilverspine said:

Unless your tasks are high ram consumers, you could just go for anothe 2x4GB kit

 

As for complications, you'll probably start noticing them far later on. I've seen systems with mismatched modules (same frequency, same CAS rating, just different capacities) that have had the higher-cap ones be the first to go (no guarantee that it would happen to you), memory address errors (resulting in occasional BSODs). IIRC if you have mismatched channels (you'd be running 2x4GB on one channel and 2x8GB on the second), you're stuck with single channel. XMP is also out of the question most likely.

 

In what regards low profile and full profile: As far as I know if the specsheets only differ on the height, the ram sticks should be identical, just shorter. Not sure on that, though, would appreciate more input on that

Yeah, that's what i'm going to do, just get the Low Profile version of the set i've already got, not going to risk it for an additional 8GB that I may not even properly utilise all of the time. I play quite a bit of Cities: Skylines, which is a very CPU and memory intensive game, and I was just looking for a quick fix to try and control the unplayable lag :L (Not a GPU thing, checked my RAM usage and it was right up high all the time.

[SLAYR]

1 hour ago, RhysMusique said:

Anybody else got any input?

You could just plug the ram in and it should work if not then return it, but since they are the same speed then you dont have to worry about them underclocking. 

[Nena Trinity]

If all latencies and sub latencies match then you should be fine and even if not they will run at the slowest sticks speed. I myself and a friend did mismatch our RAM and it worked for both, I miss matched latencies while he miss matches size but not latencies not sure what happen if you miss match both...