Ram Question

[MrNah]

K so I've been asked this question alot and I've asked others but noone has really given me a straight answer. yes call me a noob for asking but what really is the difference between having 2 sticks of the same ram and having 2 different types of ram. for example having 2 512 ddr-800 sticks from the same package and make. then having 2 512 ddr-800 sticks from different brands?

 

[Mitch?]

well . it's generally better to have the same types, for dual channel.
if your motherboard supports dual channel, then it's easier for the system to use them, and it's more cohesive, as the memory will have the same latency (my ram has 4-5-4-11 timings, while many have 4-4-4-15, 5-4-5-12, etc)...
having four different types of ram in a system isn't the best. if you have to sets of ram in dual channel, the types can be different without a big issue (2 Mushkin ddr800 in two slots, then 2 Corsair ddr800 sticks in the other two slots)

 

[Geoff]

I'm assuming you mean 512MB and not 510, but anyways, the difference happens when you for instance mix DDR2 800 RAM that has timings of 5-5-5-15, with DDR2 800 with timings of 6-6-6-18, all the RAM will run at the higher latencies/speed.

 

[fade2green514]

two different modules rated at the same speed doesnt mean they run just as stable or that they overclock just as well.

for instance they're both rated ddr2-800. one overclocks to ddr2-1066 at 2.0v and the other won't do that speed at 2.2v... they have different architecture and are designed differently. just because they serve the same purpose doesnt mean that its the same stick. one of the sticks may even have the inability to run a divider, limiting your overclock in a lot of cases.

aside from overclocking though, theres not a huge difference, just motherboard compatibility really. if any stick is slower than another, they both run at the slower speed. higher timings and lower frequency.