Can You Mix RAM?

[Unknown_To_Me]

I have several DDR3 Ram. I could have 11gb of Ram if I mixed and matched Ram sticks but only 8gb if I just use 1 stick. Is it harmful or dangerous to mix different Ram?

[Oshino Shinobu]

You can mix, yes. Try mixing them, worst that can really happen is the RAM won't work together, so you just go back to 8GB. 

[Glenwing]

Just now, Unknown_To_Me said:

I have several DDR3 Ram. I could have 11gb of Ram if I mixed and matched Ram sticks but only 8gb if I just use 1 stick. Is it harmful or dangerous to mix different Ram?

Yes, you can do it. I have four sticks of Samsung 4GB DDR3 1600 and another four sticks of of Corsair 2GB DDR3 1333 in my machine now. And my laptop has one 8GB and one 2GB stick.

[KE2012]

It is not advised to mix Ram speeds, voltages, and different quantities of ram in the same channel. 

[SpaceGhostC2C]

You may lose dual channel mode by mixing sticks of different size. You could also have problems running at their rated speeds, but they should work if set to the DDR3 standard's speed.

[Unknown_To_Me]

Just now, SpaceGhostC2C said:

You may lose dual channel mode by mixing sticks of different size. You could also have problems running at their rated speeds, but they should work if set to the DDR3 standard's speed.

 

Just now, KE2012 said:

It is not advised to mix Ram speeds, voltages, and different quantities of ram in the same channel. 

Im not worried about dual channel or anything, but I just want a little more ram for misc. tasks. I know it isn't needed, but it may help.

[Nena Trinity]

The best way to make sure it works is to get two sticks of RAM that has same MHz & CAS latency, sub latencies should match to but it most not in most cases. One more thing that helps is to make sure all has modules from same manufacturer such as SK Hynix with other SK Hynix or Samsung with Samsung.

 

How I did it:

RAM 1, 2, 3 & 4: SK 하이닉스 (HyperX Savage & Patriot Viper III) DDR3-2133MHz CL10-12-12-34 (4x4GB) 

[Unknown_To_Me]

1 minute ago, Nena360 said:

The best way to make sure it works is to get two sticks of RAM that has same MHz & CAS latency, sub latencies should match to but it most not in most cases. One more thing that helps is to make sure all has modules from same manufacturer such as SK Hynix with other SK Hynix or Samsung with Samsung.

That's what i'm worried about. If they are different, will my computer explode due to confusion?

[Nena Trinity]

Just now, Unknown_To_Me said:

That's what i'm worried about. If they are different, will my computer explode due to confusion?

Nah it will just say error or blue-screen!

 

How I did it:

RAM 1, 2, 3 & 4: SK 하이닉스 (HyperX Savage & Patriot Viper III) DDR3-2133MHz CL10-12-12-34 (4x4GB) 

[Unknown_To_Me]

Just now, Nena360 said:

Nah it will just say error or blue-screen!

 

How I did it:

RAM 1, 2, 3 & 4: SK 하이닉스 (HyperX Savage & Patriot Viper III) DDR3-2133MHz CL10-12-12-34 (4x4GB) 

Ok, that's a relief. Thanks!

[samiscool51]

becareful with mixing RAM, i heard it can damage MB's

[Nena Trinity]

6 minutes ago, Unknown_To_Me said:

Ok, that's a relief. Thanks!

The only risk is if the voltage do not match, that is important. How ever most are 1.5v unless you grab a high MHz kit!

[Unknown_To_Me]

Just now, Nena360 said:

The only risk is if the voltage do not match, that is important. How ever most are 1.5v unless you grab a high MHz kit!

How do check? I'm not very familiar with RAM.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

Just now, Nena360 said:

The only risk is if the voltage do not match, that is important. How ever most are 1.5v unless you grab a high MHz kit!

But that would at most damage the sticks, rather than the motherboard.

And if they are not DDR3L, they must all handle 1600 9-9-9-2x at 1.5v or 1333 -don't remember at 1.5

1 minute ago, Unknown_To_Me said:

How do check? I'm not very familiar with RAM.

Look for stickers on the sticks, are there any?

[Nena Trinity]

2 minutes ago, Unknown_To_Me said:

How do check? I'm not very familiar with RAM.

It is normally written in the specs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148545

Example here it has 1600MHz, CL9 & 1.5v!

[Nena Trinity]

1 minute ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

But that would at most damage the sticks, rather than the motherboard.

And if they are not DDR3L, they must all handle 1600 9-9-9-2x at 1.5v or 1333 -don't remember at 1.5

DDR3L is rare, it is more likely he got DDR4 or DDR3!

[Unknown_To_Me]

1 minute ago, Nena360 said:

DDR3L is rare, it is more likely he got DDR4 or DDR3!

I'm positive I only have DDR3, no DDR3L

[Nena Trinity]

1 minute ago, Unknown_To_Me said:

I'm positive I only have DDR3, no DDR3L

Then it is easy! Most likely it is 1600MHz, CL9 & 1.5v. but check to make sure!

[Unknown_To_Me]

My 8gb is 1600, but I'm looking at these stcks and it doesnt say anything about it (at least as far as I can tell)

[AI3X]

Can you do it, in theory, yes. Do i reccomed it... NO. Will it kill anything, most likely not but it may crash or stuff like that may happen every once and a while.

 

[kronickiller]

u can mix ram in theory

but for the most part dont do it unless ur lucky but if ur not like i am wouldnt do it lol

i have had no luck what so ever in mixing ram u will spend more time fixing it than it woulda cost to pay the xtra 20 bucks to make it worth while

and u wont even notice the problem till u use that much memory

unless u buy something thats exact specifacations and brand but even then it might be a roll of the dice

but if ur bored and got nothing else to do go for it lol