RAM Questions! Please help

[MultiMigo]

Quick questions

 

I have an AsRock Z77 Pro 3 motherboard. 4 RAM slots (A1, A2, B1, B2) 

 

1. My Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 1600Mhz CL9 is currently running at 2133Mhz CL11 (This is in slot A2) Can I put another 4GB ram stick? Will put it in slot A1 which will not run it in dual channel. Question is, will it run the 8gb stick at 2133mhz and the 4gb at 1600mhz or will it default both to 1600mhz? 

 

2. Can I combine different size sticks? Hoping to add a Team Elite 4GB 1600MHz CL11 stick. In total of 8+4 = 12GB ram

 

3. Should I put it in a different slot? Or can I run them in dual channel? (A2, B2)? If not, can I still use it but put it in slot A1?

 

4. My current 8GB stick is CL9 and the 4gb is CL11, will I run into complications if I use them both?

 

PS: If it is okay, I will remove the overclock and run the Crucial stick at default which is 1600mhz CL9

 

Thanks

[R3ep3r]

7 minutes ago, MultiMigo said:

Quick questions

 

I have an AsRock Z77 Pro 3 motherboard. 4 RAM slots (A1, A2, B1, B2) 

 

1. My Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 1600Mhz CL9 is currently running at 2133Mhz CL11 (This is in slot A2) Can I put another 4GB ram stick? Will put it in slot A1 which will not run it in dual channel. Question is, will it run the 8gb stick at 2133mhz and the 4gb at 1600mhz or will it default both to 1600mhz? 

 

2. Can I combine different size sticks? Hoping to add a Team Elite 4GB 1600MHz CL11 stick. In total of 8+4 = 12GB ram

 

3. Should I put it in a different slot? Or can I run them in dual channel? (A2, B2)? If not, can I still use it but put it in slot A1?

 

4. My current 8GB stick is CL9 and the 4gb is CL11, will I run into complications if I use them both?

 

PS: If it is okay, I will remove the overclock and run the Crucial stick at default which is 1600mhz CL9

 

Thanks

As long as both sticks have the same CL and same voltage the sticks should work fine. As for different CL number the sticks will not run. So you'd better get two sticks with same CL. If voltage is lower on a ram stick them both sticks will run at the lowest voltage between the two ones. (if you have 2133 and 1600, both wil run 1600). 

[MultiMigo]

Just now, R3ep3r said:

As long as both sticks have the same CL and same voltage the sticks should work fine. As for different CL number the sticks will not run. So you'd better get two sticks with same CL. If voltage is lower on a ram stick them both sticks will run at the lowest voltage between the two ones. (if you have 2133 and 1600, both wil run 1600). 

Hmmm. Are you sure about that? Will wait for more replies. Some articles I have seen said you can mix if you have the same voltage and frequency even if you have different CL. Thanks for the input. I'm not sure so will wait for more replies. 

[Hugs12343]

It's not great to mix match different sticks especially from different brands but it can be done

[SupaKomputa]

no need to match the CL, it will run at the slowest.

As for different capacity, it will run in asynchronous dual channel.

Contrary to what many beliefs, mixing ram is fine, dual channel rules are not that strict.

this topic have been discussed lately, go search.

[R3ep3r]

1 minute ago, MultiMigo said:

Hmmm. Are you sure about that? Will wait for more replies. Some articles I have seen said you can mix if you have the same voltage and frequency even if you have different CL. Thanks for the input. I'm not sure so will wait for more replies. 

Indeed some people said the sticks should work. You could also try that by yourself. If it boots, then the sticks should work. But your PC might/may become unstable, meaning you could get blue screens. If you want something stable you'll have to adjust the CL for both sticks, in bios, which is pretty difficult and then run a mem test in order to make sure both work fine. Or take the easy way and buy a stick with the same CL/Voltage as the one you already have. Memory could be easily matched in bios so that won't be a problem at all.

[MultiMigo]

1 minute ago, SupaKomputa said:

no need to match the CL, it will run at the slowest.

As for different capacity, it will run in asynchronous dual channel.

Thanks! Will research more on asynchronous dual channel

[MultiMigo]

3 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

no need to match the CL, it will run at the slowest.

As for different capacity, it will run in asynchronous dual channel.

Contrary to what many beliefs, mixing ram is fine, dual channel rules are not that strict.

this topic have been discussed lately, go search.

So basically, I can run an 8 gig stick and a 4 gig stick in async dual channel if it has the same mhz, cl, and voltage?

[SupaKomputa]

never tried it, but i suppose so.

but if all fails, it just run a single channel.

no biggie

[MultiMigo]

1 minute ago, SupaKomputa said:

never tried it, but i suppose so.

but if all fails, it just run a single channel.

no biggie

Ahhhh. That one! Thank you!

 

Last question

 

the 4GB stick I will get is in CL11, the 8gb I have is CL9. Same voltage and freq

 

If I run them in single channel, would it work? 

[SupaKomputa]

Yes, thats because im in the "you must match the same size" camp. Never knew you can also get dual channel with different sizes.

 

In single channel different CL will work, that i know for sure.