2x 2gb + 1x 4gb on Dual Channel

Erwin0s · Oct 1, 2014

Hi all,

I have currently 1x 4gb Corsair Vengeance (1600mhz), on a MSI 970A-G43 motherboard.
Now i managed to get a hold of 2 x 2gb ram, also running at 1600mhz, but its cheaper ones from Samsung.
Can i just put those 2 in dual channel mode, and the 4gb apart?
Or will that actually slow down my system somehow?

Thanks!

maestro0428 · Oct 1, 2014

It would be fine as long as the voltages and timings are all set the same, probably... boards do get finiky about ram.

alienworkshop · Oct 1, 2014

i would just put in the 2x2 and take the 4 gig out. but, that's just me.

Lutfij · Oct 1, 2014

Whenever you add more ram to a system it is always advised to put in matched sets and/or kits when working with ram. Physically you will have 8GB of ram but as far as the components are concerned they will be mismatched both internally and ofc externally.

You should view ram being manufactured on assembly lines. A minor drop or even a bump in temperature during manufacturing will cause a slight change in timings and the voltage it will respond to. The process of binning for top tier kits requires a strict QC so kits work on the same level and this is how you end up with matched kits/sets.

To that end, if you do use any of the rams, You'd benefit with the dual channel kit and if they are Samsung's magic rams, then you would be in luck to get them to 1866MHz on 1.6v

So the choices are:
1| keep the ram as is
2| swap out Vengeance for Samsung
3| sell them off for a good price and get higher capacity kits provided you have productive work in your daily itinerary.

Hope this helps.

Erwin0s · Oct 1, 2014

Thank you for the answers, and thank you Lutfij for that explanation, very helpful!

I understand going with only 2x2 samsungs will be the best option.

Any chance this is the magic ram you're talking about?

M378B5773CH0-CK0 Samsung 2gb Ddr3 1600mhz Pc3-12800 240pin Cl11 Non-S

http://www.amazon.com/M378B5773CH0-CK0-Samsung-1600mhz-Pc3-12800-240pin/dp/tech-data/B00IMY96YC

Thanks!

Lutfij · Oct 1, 2014

No, the magic dimms I'm talking about are half height and go higher than 1866MHz on the 1.6~1.65v range.

You would eventually need to provide some heat spreaders to keep them in operating temperature and ofc for daily use if you went that high.

You're welcome. On second thoughts, would you be able to post what you see from the sticker posted on the samsung dimms?

Erwin0s · Oct 1, 2014

Here is a pic, didn't put it in yet. Hope its clear enough :

Erwin0s · Oct 1, 2014

doesn't seem to come through, here is the link :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/icn02hp5hm2drki/20141001_222253.jpg?dl=0

Lutfij · Oct 1, 2014

I can't make out from the sticker but as far as I can see I can't see the voltages on the sticker. Only the timings and the speed.

Erwin0s · Oct 1, 2014

I did some digging on internet and found following specs for it :

Supply Voltage-Max (Vsup) 1.58 V
Supply Voltage-Min (Vsup) 1.42 V
Supply Voltage-Nom (Vsup) 1.5 V

Lutfij · Oct 1, 2014

The only way to be sure is to use them and after firing up your system go into OS with CPU-Z and check out the Jedec specs under memory tab however I'll put my hunch on ti being 1.5v spec'd.

Just to be clear, you're not going to return or sell it right?

Use it in place of the Vengeance and in BIOS set voltage to 1.5v and manually key in the timings.

Tradesman1 · Oct 1, 2014

Since you have the sticks - try the 4GB in slot 1 and the 2x2GB in slots 3-4, if a Intel mobo or a newer AMD chances are they will run in dual (all) via Flex mode (Intel) or AMDs adaption of flex, try and see if the run and pop up in dual (can check in CPU-Z, the memory tab will show single or dual), then if need be we can adjust freq, timings and voltages

Lutfij · Oct 1, 2014

I wasn't aware of the flex technology used by Intel or a re-dubbed version by AMD on the 970 chipped mobo.

Tradesman1 · Oct 1, 2014

Flex itself, goes way back (2004-2205 or so), Amd has used a variant of it for quite awhile, but depends on mobo maker and mobo, I've seen some 970s where it worked, not alot, but don't get alot of AMD rigs in the shop

Here's a link to check:

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-011965.htm

also just found this, from right here at Tom's, though long before we came along

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-stakes-vision-pc-future-775-launch,830-28.html

Erwin0s · Oct 2, 2014

Hi guys,

I tried the setup as described by Tradesman1, 4gb in DIMM1, 2x2gb in DIMM 3 and 4.
Here are the screens for CPU-Z :

https://imageshack.com/i/knZo1Qhtj
https://imageshack.com/i/idxlWsgUj
https://imageshack.com/i/ipeqdPCjj
https://imageshack.com/i/kmVVw9jKj

If I'm not mistaking it does seem to run in dual mode.
Also the specs for the cheap samsungs actually look better then the vengeance.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts, thanks!

Erwin0s · Oct 2, 2014

Small update, i forgot to enable xmp, thus the vengeance was still running at 1333.

This is after enabling xmp :

https://imageshack.com/i/kq8B85fkj

Lutfij · Oct 2, 2014

With the dimms you have:
Corsair Vengeance - 1600MHz 9-9-9-24
vs
Samsung - 1600MHz 11-11-11-28

With ram operating at 1600MHz, the lower the number the faster it is (which we call tighter timinigs) while the higher the number the looser the timings. In an APU environment, the timings wouldn't matter - only the frequency but when we talk of a platform like Intel's and AM(2/3+) socket boards(without an onboard GPU), the timings play a critical part in your system provided you are gaming, rendering and ofc doing productive choirs on your system.

Physically you have 8GB of ram on your system but the effectiveness would be erm crippled... Tradesman can shine some more light on this matter

https://forums.ebuyer.com/showthread.php/78117-16GB-1600Mhz-CL9-1-5V-or-CL11-1-35V
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/299012-30-latency-speed
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1778053/cas-latency-ram.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAS_latency
I don't think XMP will venture over to the Samsung Dimms.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1702196/mixing-corsair-xms3-cl9-cl11-memory.html

Erwin0s · Oct 2, 2014

Thanks, ok so do I understand correct that I am best to go with only the single 4gb at 9clocks, and take out the samsungs 2x2 11clocks?

For the record, I do use it for some gaming, and I'm on a triple monitor setup.
I have a R9 290x with 4gb so that also helps for the graphic part tho.
Budgetwise I started out with that 4gb vengeance, to later upgrade with another 4.

Guess these samsungs won't do the trick then

Lutfij · Oct 2, 2014

I'd ask you to try and sell all of the dimms and snag a proper kit - say 8GB. You may live it out until DDR4 trickles down in prices and probably you'll outlive the AMD platform for it to give up the ghost

You can find some nice kits for a good price for second hand on ebay, craiglist or perhaps microcenter...?

Erwin0s · Oct 3, 2014

Ty for those clear answers, if it weren't for those I would have been running a cripple system..!!

Lutfij · Oct 3, 2014

Speaking of which we yet don't know your full systems specs

Perhaps we could provide a suggestion(or couple of suggestions) for a kit?

We would also need to know your location and maximum budget, mind you.

Thank you for selecting me as Best Answer!

Erwin0s · Oct 3, 2014

This is what I am running atm :

CPU : AMD FX6300 3.5ghz 6-Core
GPU : Sapphire Radeon Dual-X R9 270x 4gb
Mobo : Msi 970a-g43
RAM : 4gb Corsair Vengeance 1600 single
PSU : Technet 500w
Case : Corsair Carbide 200R Case (front + back fan)
OS : Windows 8.1 Professional 64-bit

My location is Belgium, I was hoping to find something decent for under 100€, preferably actually around 80, does that sound realistic?

Lutfij · Oct 3, 2014

Would you have any retailer sites you would be purchasing off of?

Erwin0s · Oct 4, 2014

Yes I usually go with either http://www.mycom.be or http://www.alternate.be , they are usually cheapest with shipping included

Lutfij · Oct 4, 2014

Check these out:
Kingston HyperX 8GB DDR3-1866 Kit HX318C10FK2 / 8 FURY Blue = 90

Kingston HyperX 8GB Kit DDR3-1866 KHX18C9T3K2 / 8X = 100

I'd go with the latter for the round figure and better timings overall.

2x 2gb + 1x 4gb on Dual Channel

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