mixing different RAMs

WhiteFireDragon

WhiteFireDragon

New Member
i currently have 3 different bran of RAM (5 sticks) that i can put into 4 slots of my computer and i had questions before i did it. these are the memories i have:

-OCZ gold (2x1GB) ddr2-800MHz
4-5-5-15​

-Crucial 1GB ddr2-667MHz
(timing not even listed)​

-Corsair (2x512mb) ddr2-667MHz
4-4-4-12 (i think)​

i was thinking to fill ALL the 4 slots with 3x1GB sticks + 512mb stick. but since they are not made from the same manufacturer, timings, and speed, would it be more wise if i only put the OCZ 2x1GB?
 
Your last statement would be the best option. When considering whether or not to run a pair of 2gb dimms or simply going with one pair of 1gb dimms at the time and later adding another pair of the exact same memory that was to see the matched of 1gb DDR2 800 memory used.

Mixing faster memory there with 800 and 667 would see the 800 immediately slowed down to the 667mhz speed. The common advice for installing memory is to see identical sized dimm on the first dimm slot of each channel when planning on running in the dual channel mode.

The second dimm of the same type on one channel can be a 512 if the A1 or Slot #0 and B1 or Slot #1 each see a 1gb dimm in use. Mixing timings however can end up with a bad mix when each conflicts with the other. For 3gb there the pair of 800mhz 1gb dimms could see a 512 of the same type and speed on the second slot for each channel. That would be another pair of OCZ PC6400 DDR2 800 512s there.
 
WhiteFireDragon said:
i currently have 3 different bran of RAM (5 sticks) that i can put into 4 slots of my computer and i had questions before i did it. these are the memories i have:

-OCZ gold (2x1GB) ddr2-800MHz
4-5-5-15​
-Crucial 1GB ddr2-667MHz
(timing not even listed)​
-Corsair (2x512mb) ddr2-667MHz
4-4-4-12 (i think)​
i was thinking to fill ALL the 4 slots with 3x1GB sticks + 512mb stick. but since they are not made from the same manufacturer, timings, and speed, would it be more wise if i only put the OCZ 2x1GB?
Click to expand...

I would just use the OCZ gold ram for now 2 gigs will be enough for gaming. Although it should work mixing the different types of ram the 800 mhz will downclock to the slowest speed ram but it should still work but I would just use the OCZ it should be plenty for now.
 
2gb is generally enough even for gaming builds unless you are planning to run large memory hungry softwares or development ptograms like CAD or graphics design work. When seeing the 512mb minimum requirement in a game that doesn't imply that the game takes up 512 when that's all you have installed.

What that is referring to there is having enough to cover Windows needs as well as the amount the game actually uses. The leap originally seen when increasing from 1gb upto 2gb is where you notice the big gains overall.
 
yeah i always knew when mixing memories, the faster one will downclock to the slower one. but i'm wondering if an additional 1GB capacity is worth the trade-off lowering the overall speed to 667MHz? having 3GB as opposed to 2GB will result in each stick running cooler, but slower right? these are my possible combinations:

1) OCZ (2x1GB) 800mhz = 2GB 800mhz

2) OCZ (2x1GB) 800mhz + crucial 1GB 667mhz = 3GB 667mhz

3) OCZ (2x1GB) 800mhz + corsair (2x512mb) 667mhz = 3GB 667mhz

4) OCZ (2x1GB) 800mhz + crucial 1GB 667mhz + corsair 512mb 667mhz = 3.6GB 667mhz

essentially, whats more important... capacity or speed? i was going to go with the first choice but just had to ask first to see if it was the best choice.

PS- i didn't know putting each memory stick in certain slots matter! in my case, there's 2 orange slots on the left and 2 purple slots on the right on my mobo
 
Last edited:
On many boards you will see a blue or other color for the first dimm slot while black for the second. The manual will then point to using the blue on each channel for seeing the dual channel mode enabled when running two dimms.

The board there distinguished the A and B being primary and second memory channel by seeing orange for channel #1 and purple for channel #2 there. By looking at the install memory section in the manual itself it will point out which is the #1 slot on each channel that is the first consideration when mixing different sized dimms. The A1 or slot #0 namely the first of the pair is where you would see 1gb dimm while a 512 would go into the A2 or Slot #1.

The mix of seeing the 800mhz memory on the A channel where most boards want the fastest memory would also see the OCZ memory while the Crucial 1gb dimm would see the B1 or slot #0 on the B channel being a 1gb as well as the slower 667mhz memory. That would be the most likely combination for mixing there to see 3gb total while adding a Corsair 512 on the B channel to the Crucial would see 3.5gb and likely result in latency issues and clashes with the mix.

The ideal for seeing a boost there would be simply buying a pair of OCZ 800mhz 512z that see the same timings with one on the second dimm slot of each channel. You would run at the 800mhz speed, see 3gb installed, and likely lose out on the dual channel mode depending the chipset.

You would see the increase but lose on the dual channel mode and likely performance gain while providing for large programs like CAD. For a gaming machine running a good matched pair of the fastest memory supported like the 2gb of OCZ there would be the smart move to avoid any latency or other issues from appearing. Jerry rigging memory just to see a 3-4gb total and expecting to see any big gains are too different things.
 
ok i'll stick to just the 2GB OCZ memory then. thanks pceye!

but i am getting a little confused when you say channel A/B, #1 and 2, slots #0 and 1. right now, my mobo has 4 slots equally spaced and close together with slots labeled dimm1, dimm2, dimm3, and dimm4 from left to right. the two slots on the left are the orange ones (dimm1 and 2), and the two slots on the right are the purple ones (dimm3 and 4). i have my two sticks of RAM installed on both orange slots and none in the purple. that is correct right?
 
The numbered slots indicate 1+2 for the A cnannel while 3+4 are for the B or second memory channel. On that model board the first channel is orange while the second is purple. On many other boards you would see the first on each like a blue or green with each second slot being black.

This is why reviewing the manual's section on installing memory is the first step! You installed both on one channel rather then one on each to see the dual channel mode enabled. The manual will point to either dimm slots 1+3 or 2+4 as the pair to use.
 
actually the manual did not mention anything about channels! they just showed how to place it in and the clip will lock it (which is pretty much common sense).

wait... so i had it wrong this whole time? i should install one on the orange and one on the purple (slots #1 and #3) since they are the same exact memory sticks??
 
here's an update:

it's weird because having both sticks on both left slots (both on the orange) shows up as "dual channel" when the comp is booting up. then i second guess myself and switched then to slot 1 and 3 (one on orange and one on purple) and the shows it says "one channel" when the comp boots up. so i think i had it right the first time.

basically i want it to say boot up saying "dual channel" right?
 
This is why I said earlier to look at what the manual shows in the installing memory section before doing anything. The board is obviously placing the primary slots together for both channels while you see blue or green then black then the same for the next pair of slots according to how it layed out by design. Now you put in singe channel mode and simply switch the dimm back to the original slot to see the dual mode enabled again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top