Can these two brands of memory play nicely together?

[Dave76]

Hello,
I want to upgrade RAM in my OEM box.
Is the Corsair Twin2X4096-6400C5 compatible with this memory?

Currently installed: total 4X1GB
2X1GB Nanya Tecnology
Speed: 400 MHz (DDR2 800)
Memory Timings: 6-6-6-18-24 at 400MHz, at 1.8 volts

2X1GB Hyundai Electronics
Speed: 400 MHz (DDR2 800)
Memory Timings: 6-6-6-18-24 at 400MHz, at 1.8 volts


The RAM limit for my computer is 8GB, with a 64bit OS.
The Twin2X4096-6400C5 is the recommended memory for my computer, from the OEM website.
I want to replace one set of the 2X1GB with the Twin2X4096-6400C5, which will give me 6GB RAM.
The Twin2X4096-6400C5 timings and voltages: CL5 ( 5-5-5-18 ), Supply Voltage 1.9 V.
Are the different timings and voltages going to cause any problems for the different brands of memory to play well together?

Thanks for any help or opinions,

 

[Corpsecrank]

Always try to match the specs as close as you can. I have run into issues trying to mix ram where the specs were close but not exact. And in those cases they should have still been able to run but the system simply refused to recognize them. I believe that was mostly due to the way the motherboard handled the ram though.

In any case you are better off to simply buy a full kit of matching memory for an upgrade if you can afford it. You won't have to worry about incompatibility issues.

 

[pparks1]

Yes, you typically can mix and match RAM. In a business environment, we typically buy our RAM for workstations from 3rd party vendors and we just usually pick the make and model from the website and it shows compatible ram. We add it to the card, toss it into the machine with the factory RAM and things are just fine.

 

[Dave76]

Always try to match the specs as close as you can. I have run into issues trying to mix ram where the specs were close but not exact. And in those cases they should have still been able to run but the system simply refused to recognize them. I believe that was mostly due to the way the motherboard handled the ram though.

In any case you are better off to simply buy a full kit of matching memory for an upgrade if you can afford it. You won't have to worry about incompatibility issues.

Yes, you typically can mix and match RAM. In a business environment, we typically buy our RAM for workstations from 3rd party vendors and we just usually pick the make and model from the website and it shows compatible ram. We add it to the card, toss it into the machine with the factory RAM and things are just fine.

This confirms it. It's 50/50!
Figured it would be a gamble at best.
Truth is I just got a gift certificate, and this is about the only thing that I can think of right now.
If it won't work with my old RAM, then I'll still be at 4GB, nothing lost!

Thanks for the reply,

 

[Antman]

Kuya - you are misinterpreting the two responses. They are essentially the same.

Always try to match the specs as close as you can

Of course, get mfgr specific RAM when possible. Else, match the specs and the power requirements. If you intend to overclock, don't mix stix.

Some motherboards require stepping RAM speed down when moving from 4GB to 8GB (1066/800 down to 667/533).

Also, the difference in actual discernable performance when moving from 4GB upward approaches negligible under most circumstances. Multimedia editing being a common exception, and some gaming.

Buy a bigger monitor, a bluetooth keyboard/mouse, high-end audio, or roses for magandang asawa mo.

 

[thefabe]

Persomaly I would NEVER mix ram cause you almost always run into some kind of issue, either bsods or as specified above they run at a lower rating.Even buying the exact same ram but at different times can cause problems if your an overclocke.r Just thru the companies binning process or manufacturing changes Kits are usualy tested together. So I buy all the ram I'm going to use at the same time. To try and get them manufactured as close to the same lot as possible.

 

[Dave76]

Kuya - you are misinterpreting the two responses. They are essentially the same.

Always try to match the specs as close as you can

Of course, get mfgr specific RAM when possible. Else, match the specs and the power requirements. If you intend to overclock, don't mix stix.

Some motherboards require stepping RAM speed down when moving from 4GB to 8GB (1066/800 down to 667/533).

Also, the difference in actual discernable performance when moving from 4GB upward approaches negligible under most circumstances. Multimedia editing being a common exception, and some gaming.

Buy a bigger monitor, a bluetooth keyboard/mouse, high-end audio, or roses for magandang asawa mo.

Salamat sa reply mo.

I thought Corpsecrank said he had close speeds and it didn't work, I should get all matching RAM. I understand this is the best way to do it.
I thought pparks1 said he gets compatible RAM (but different brand) from a website and it has worked for him. I understand that it is possible to mix, sometimes.

The Corsair RAM is the one suggested by the OEM for my (service tag) computer. The gift certificate is from my OEM also.

I don't overclock or game. But, do some video editing and graphics work, want to try doing more graphics manipulation with PS. Also, have a bad habit of opening too many programs at the same time.

On the OEM forum some people with the same computer as mine have reported that they are using 8GB with no problems. This doesn't mean that it will work for me.

Guess I'll go look through their website again.

I like my 22" monitor, just got a new keyboard and my audio is reasonably good.
Marami nang bulaklak ang asawa ko, Salamat.

 

[Dave76]

Persomaly I would NEVER mix ram cause you almost always run into some kind of issue, either bsods o ras specified above they run at a lower rating.Even buying the exact same ram but at different times can cause problems if your an overclocke.r Just thru the companies binning process or manufacturing changes Kits are usualy tested together. So I buy all the ram I'm going to use at the same time. To try and get them manufactured as close to the same lot as possible.

I agree that is the best way to do it. My computer came with 2GB Nanya Tec RAM, I upgraded about eight months ago from the OEM and got the 2GB Hyundai Electronics (OEM recommended), it is working fine.

Guess I'll buy 8Gigs or go shopping at their site again.

Thanks for the reply,

 

[Tews]

magandang asawa mo.

Are we speaking in tongues now??? :shock:

 

[Dave76]

Are we speaking in tongues now??? :shock:

Its da island language!

Actually it's Tagalog.

 

[Corpsecrank]

Yes what I meant is that you should try to keep the sticks as closely matched as possible if you want to mix so that you can eliminate as many problems as possible otherwise you could run into an issue and it may be do to a whole list of problems. If you match the specs you should be able to mix them without a problem.

But like I said if you can afford to buy matching kits your much better off. If you can't afford to replace all your ram with matching kits then be sure to match the specs of the new ram with the specs of the existing as closely as you can.

 

[Dave76]

Yes what I meant is that you should try to keep the sticks as closely matched as possible if you want to mix so that you can eliminate as many problems as possible otherwise you could run into an issue and it may be do to a whole list of problems. If you match the specs you should be able to mix them without a problem.

But like I said if you can afford to buy matching kits your much better off. If you can't afford to replace all your ram with matching kits then be sure to match the specs of the new ram with the specs of the existing as closely as you can.

Thanks for the reply.

The Corsair RAM is the only 2X2GB my OEM recommends for my computer when I search with my service tag. I'll check the site for another 2X2GB with 6-6-6-18, 1.8v, non-ECC and unbuffered.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Antman]

I used the Kingston HyperX PC8500 that Asus "recommended" in the mobo manual. I was cheated. I have to seriously overclock the FSB to get the RAM to operate at 1066. This applies only in reference to your comments regarding what the mobo mfgr recommends. I have since learned that it is a marketing agreement between the two companies that results in such a recommendation.

Plus, it gives me an opportunity to say, Magandang bata ko. Notice, I bought her the roses and I still "need" more RAM.

 

[Corpsecrank]

I used the Kingston HyperX PC8500 that Asus "recommended" in the mobo manual. I was cheated. I have to seriously overclock the FSB to get the RAM to operate at 1066. This applies only in reference to your comments regarding what the mobo mfgr recommends. I have since learned that it is a marketing agreement between the two companies that results in such a recommendation.

Plus, it gives me an opportunity to say, Magandang bata ko. Notice, I bought her the roses and I still "need" more RAM.

I have kingston hyperx in my system and even though the ram is rated as 1066 you have to manually clock it up in the bios.

Most boards that support 1066 as a maximum require the ram to be overclocked to that speed. It all comes down to the board though.

My next board will support 1666 ddr3 but because of the 1066 deal on this board I am buying ddr3 1800 and letting the board down clock it to 1666 rather than buying ram capable of 1666 and then clocking up.

I'm not exactly sure why you would need to clock ram capable of the boards maximum memory speed if the memory is already set to run that fast. It just seems dumb to me.

Aside from that the hyperx I have installed runs VERY hot probably because of the way it had to be configured. Seriously you can burn your fingers touching it. Also because of the ram becoming so hot you lose a lot of head room while trying to OC the processor. I would be afraid to OC this system right now because of the ram temperatures.

So if you do plan to buy some ram and you want to OC the system you should do what I do and buy faster ram that can be clocked down to the boards max speed and then OC the system without taxing the ram to death and running hot.

 

[Antman]

Yes. My next platform will involve underclocking the RAM. In my current rig, I use two RAM fans. I have one seriously loud machine. I keep it in a separate room from the monitor and HIDs - and can still here it.


Waiting not so patiently for USB3.

 

[Dave76]

I used the Kingston HyperX PC8500 that Asus "recommended" in the mobo manual. I was cheated. I have to seriously overclock the FSB to get the RAM to operate at 1066. This applies only in reference to your comments regarding what the mobo mfgr recommends. I have since learned that it is a marketing agreement between the two companies that results in such a recommendation.

Plus, it gives me an opportunity to say, Magandang bata ko. Notice, I bought her the roses and I still "need" more RAM.

Kuya,
Nice pic, magandang bata mo! Meron din akong tatlong anak.

Good point, I know that OEMs can be a little makulit! My board is rated at 1066 and my RAM at 800, hope I don't have that issue. Thus, this question.

I'm going to look for exact timings and voltages.

Thanks for your reply,

 

[Dave76]

I have kingston hyperx in my system and even though the ram is rated as 1066 you have to manually clock it up in the bios.

Most boards that support 1066 as a maximum require the ram to be overclocked to that speed. It all comes down to the board though.

My next board will support 1666 ddr3 but because of the 1066 deal on this board I am buying ddr3 1800 and letting the board down clock it to 1666 rather than buying ram capable of 1666 and then clocking up.

I'm not exactly sure why you would need to clock ram capable of the boards maximum memory speed if the memory is already set to run that fast. It just seems dumb to me.

Aside from that the hyperx I have installed runs VERY hot probably because of the way it had to be configured. Seriously you can burn your fingers touching it. Also because of the ram becoming so hot you lose a lot of head room while trying to OC the processor. I would be afraid to OC this system right now because of the ram temperatures.

So if you do plan to buy some ram and you want to OC the system you should do what I do and buy faster ram that can be clocked down to the boards max speed and then OC the system without taxing the ram to death and running hot.

Yes. My next platform will involve underclocking the RAM. In my current rig, I use two RAM fans. I have one seriously loud machine. I keep it in a separate room from the monitor and HIDs - and can still here it.


Waiting not so patiently for USB3.

This is the reason I posed the question here. I want to know the possible ramifications (no pun intended) if was to proceed with this purchase.

Thanks for the feedback,
Regards,

 

[pparks1]

In my current rig, I use two RAM fans. I have one seriously loud machine. I keep it in a separate room from the monitor and HIDs - and can still here it.

Yeah, I cannot handle loud machines anymore. I had a Dell once which performed very well and was extremely quiet. Then, I built a machine using an Antec Sonata II case and that thing was very quiet. So, that was one of the things that I really was striving towards with my latest build. When i have my fans turned to Low (which is pretty much anytime I am not gaming), my PC is hardly any noisier than my laptop. The loudest thing in the box is the fan on my Nvidia 9800GTX+. So, I'm pretty pleased as I am running about a 13% overclock on stock cooling and my machine is whisper quiet. Love it.

 

[Dave76]

I found and ordered Crucial RAM that is DDR2 (PC2 6400) 2X2GB with 6-6-6-18, 1.8v, non-ECC and unbuffered. This matches my current RAM exactly. Now I can only hope that it will work. If it doesn't I'll order more of the Crucial.

Thanks to everybody for their input,

Dave

PS, dragging this information out of Crucial was like asking for their first born! Can't understand why they don't want to give out the timing specs, they only gave CL6. All the other companies give it out. In the end I had to get it from the Micron website, which was available to the public, just had to get the converted part number.

 

[skunksmash]

the config you describe in the OP will work, but the corsair sticks will default to CL6 & you'll only be running ''single channel''

the CL5 sticks should run CL6 without a problem, matching sticks are always preferred but not a necessity, vista & 7 prefer quantity rather than quality, so running single channel wont really affect performance that much.

ive mixed hundreds of named branded & white label sticks together with 0 issues.