Can I have different rams in my rig?

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Alanthor

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Mar 17, 2014
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Hi,

I'm sorry for all the threads I am making, but knowledge is power, hehe.

Atm, I have one Corsair Vengeance 4GB, 1600MHz CL9, 1.5V (XMS3 Module). And I want another 4GB stick of RAM. Is it very important that it is exactly 1600MHz and the same voltage? Because the same model is not instock atm, and I want one today :p

Can I instead go get a Corsair 1600MHz with 1.65V? It is also XMS3.

EDIT-----
Or check this out. The RAM I currently have, is appearantly running on 1333MHz according to BIOS, and at 1.5V. Can I get a A-Data 4GB CL9 1333MHz Premier, running 1.5V also?
 
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edogawa

edogawa

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Jan 4, 2012
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You should never mix memory, they should always be exactly the same type of modules. Mixing could cause system instability by using modules that are incompatible with one another. Voltage, Mhz, and Latency should all be exactly the same.
 
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techgeek

techgeek

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Apr 11, 2004
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First off the reason your RAM isn't running at the advertised 1600MHz is that it is likely a XMP profile and you have your memory set to Auto in the BIOS. Somewhere in your BIOS there should be a place where you can select XMP.

That said, it is always advisable to match all your RAM. It might work to mix and match, but it's more likely that it will either refuse to POST or you will have weird issues like spontaneous reboots or BSOD's. So to avoid these problems I would get an exact match of the kit you have. Or even better, get a 2X4GB kit and sell the 2X2GB kit that you have or throw it in a drawer for later.
 
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techgeek

techgeek

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Apr 11, 2004
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You haven't listed the rest of your system specs, or whether you use integrated graphics or not. Speaking for Haswell and Ivy Bridge, faster RAM affects overall system performance very little. Certain types of loads can be positively affected slightly, but for the most part it wouldn't be noticeable. If you are using integrated graphics, it could have a small impact on graphics performance, but since integrated graphics are pretty sucky to begin with, they will just be slightly less sucky.

However you did pay for faster RAM, so if you have it you should consider enabling it. If you start to have problems after enabling it, it's a simple matter of changing it back.
 
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