Different RAM mixed?

[CubesTheGamer]

So, I know how RAM works (no, really. SPDs, address buses, external data buses, parity/ecc, MCC, etc.) but it's been a while since I've done anything with RAM, really. If I've ever upgraded, it was all new RAM sticks. At the moment, I have two 4GB DIMMs and four slots on my board. What I was wondering is, do I need to buy the same exact RAM for it to work best? I would imagine since I have a dual channel board that I can use different sets of dual-channel memory, but are there any requirements? Do they need to be the same speed? Can they be different brand?

 

Any help would be great! Thanks :3

[Grape Guild]

I always buy the same kind of RAM when combining, just to prevent compatibility issues.  You might be able to get around it, but it's not worth the risk in my opinion.

[mgsstar]

You don't have to buy the exact ram but it would be best for full compatibility. If you can't find them, get ram with the same frequencies, CAS latencies, and dual channel support.

[ooiman92]

As everybody else said, matching RAM is best for compatibility, but it doesn't really mean much as long as the timings are the same. 

[CubesTheGamer]

Thanks for all the answers! So, matching specs exactly shouldn't give me too many problems at all, but the same RAM is recommended. Thanks! It was just that the RAM I got is super expensive 3 months after I bought it. I feel like it was on a Black Friday sale, but it wasn't Black Friday! Now it's like $80 as before it was $50. I guess that's RAM for you. 

[Glaith]

Sometimes you can be lucky and not have any.problems at all with mixing. But then other times systems dont boot or just blue screen until mixed ram is removed. Most of the recycled PCs I do use mixed ram and have been running games for friends ect no worries. Hope this helps.

[Bronese]

I always buy the same kind of RAM when combining, just to prevent compatibility issues. You might be able to get around it, but it's not worth the risk in my opinion.

same brands and model but different packs?

[Ryan Leech]

Make sure that they run on the same voltage

[airdeano]

So, I know how RAM works (no, really. SPDs, address buses, external data buses, parity/ecc, MCC, etc.) but it's been a while since I've done anything with RAM, really. If I've ever upgraded, it was all new RAM sticks. At the moment, I have two 4GB DIMMs and four slots on my board. What I was wondering is, do I need to buy the same exact RAM for it to work best? I would imagine since I have a dual channel board that I can use different sets of dual-channel memory, but are there any requirements? Do they need to be the same speed? Can they be different brand?

 

Any help would be great! Thanks :3

 

if just sticking the modules in and having it run, sure, but any overclocking on CPU/RAM

and it'll prolly fold due to the miss-match in IC and chips. even a 2x dual channel can get

flaky under CPU overclocking. because the components are not for the same batch of

binned IC and chips. they'll have the same voltage, timing, and speed, but within the

module one might be "faster" than the other module and cause a failure in stress.

 

depends on how "intense" you are with your overclocking skills.

[Grape Guild]

same brands and model but different packs?

No, like literally the exact same product twice over.