Mixing two pairs of DDR3 sticks with different latency and timing

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theUmbra

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Jul 24, 2014
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Hello,

I read on this but I'm still a bit confused...
I have 2 x 4gb DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaws X sticks running in dual channel on my ASUS H97M-PLUS motherboard.
Here are the specs:

DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Timing 9-9-9-24
Cas Latency 9
Voltage 1.5V

I want to add 2 x 8gb DDR3 sticks (also G.skill Ripjaws X)
Here are the specs:

DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Timing 10-10-10-30
Cas Latency 10
Voltage 1.5V

This would give me a total of 24gb of RAM. But as you can see the timings and Cas latency are different between the two pairs, and I read that mixing different timings and latencies is bad...but if they are two distinct pairs, does it matter?

Thanks for the clarification!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
Mixing DRAM - EVEN 2 SETS OF THE SAME EXACT MODEL - can be and often is problematic, mixing as you are proposing is even worse than mixing the similar - while they might play, there's no guarantee, and if they do the DRAM will be out of balance prob running the bulk in dual channel and a smaller chunk in single channel - Best bet is to go 2x8GB and have 16GB or get a 32GB set....if you go 16GB you can always try adding the old, but regardless will have 16GB which is plenty for most any user
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SlayZombi

SlayZombi

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Jan 3, 2014
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It is bad, it' like cross-firing an AMD Radeon card with an Nvidia card. It most likely wont work, hence why most RAM packages come in a bundle with EXACTLY the same RAM sticks. You can try, but I suggest buying a new 24GB kit if that's what you want.
 
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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The values are not too far apart in latency.
So you should get away with running both.

Your board should set the values up that suit it best.
You start to run into problems when the speed in Mhz is not close or matched.
But your speed of the sticks are the same.

With latency there is a bit of give and take.



 
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SlayZombi

SlayZombi

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Jan 3, 2014
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True, but you have to agree you get a little unstable by running different latencies.
 
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Karadjgne

Karadjgne

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Dec 26, 2012
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If you really must do this, change the latencies to match. Pencil and paper write down the primary and secondary timings of the cl9 sticks, then remove them and add the cl10 sticks. Change the timings to match what you wrote down, run memtest86 overnightand check for stability. If the ram checks as stable, add the original sticks back in on the unused slots. All the ram should now be synced. If it unstable, do the same but raise the timings of the cl9 instead. Gskill is excellent ram, and you should be able to make it work, more probably on the second try, raising the cl9.

Best option is still to buy a fully matched set, and sell the old ram to recoup some cash back
 
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theUmbra

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Jul 24, 2014
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I'm now thinking of buying these RipjawsX 8gb to solve the latency and timing problem: http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f3-1600c9d-16gxm#tabs-spec
It seems to have the same specs, apart from the frequency which seems to be overclocked and not stock at 1600...
Or would I be better with ANOTHER model (like the Ares: http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f3-1600c9d-16gab) which has all the same specs too AND stock frequency as my own RipjawsX 4gb?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Mixing DRAM - EVEN 2 SETS OF THE SAME EXACT MODEL - can be and often is problematic, mixing as you are proposing is even worse than mixing the similar - while they might play, there's no guarantee, and if they do the DRAM will be out of balance prob running the bulk in dual channel and a smaller chunk in single channel - Best bet is to go 2x8GB and have 16GB or get a 32GB set....if you go 16GB you can always try adding the old, but regardless will have 16GB which is plenty for most any user
 
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Solution
SlayZombi

SlayZombi

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Jan 3, 2014
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DO NOT mix and match frequencies. 1866mhz and 1600mhz is just an accident waiting to happen. Either underclock one or get a different pair.
 
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