Hey, I am using an asus m5a99fx pro r2.0 motherboard. I currently have 16GBs of Corsair Vengeance 1866 DDR3 ram, and I'm looking to add another 8GBs (1x8 for 24gb total). Is it fine if I do this? Someone told me the other day that some mobos might not support certain amounts of ram (even if it's below the listed max?). I know mine can do 32GBs, but is there anything else I should be worried about? Thanks. (W10, AMD FX-8350, Gig GTX970).
Can I add more ram to my mobo?
- Thread starter Polyos
- Start date
Solution
The mobo supports up to 32GB, BUT...there's always a BUT 
.... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
.... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
Tradesman1
Legenda in Aeternum
- Jun 5, 2013
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The mobo supports up to 32GB, BUT...there's always a BUT .... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
.... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments 
Tradesman1 :
The mobo supports up to 32GB, BUT...there's always a BUT .... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
.... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
While I do a lot of gaming, I also do a ton of 3D modeling, map creation/mod creation and animation. There are a good amount of applications that benefit from more RAM that I use on a daily basis. 16GBs isn't enough, I also have a lot of tabs open on a lot of monitors, even without demanding applications running or games running I'm usually using 50% of my 16GBs. If I was just gaming 16GBs would be more than enough.
Tradesman1 :
The mobo supports up to 32GB, BUT...there's always a BUT .... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
.... mixing DRAM can be and often is problematic, always best to get all your DRAM in a single package (that way it's tested so all sticks play), if you do try mixing get a stick of the same model and if you have peoblems give me a shout, we can try voltage and/or timing adjustments
Thanks for the reply! I've known to stick to the same brand/type of RAM but I didn't know about getting the RAM in a single package, that's good to know for future builds! I don't have the budget to toss my current RAM to get a package
But it sounds like it should be alright? I'll be sure to message you if I have any issues, it's nice to see such kind people here.
Tradesman1
Legenda in Aeternum
- Jun 5, 2013
- 67,883
- 40
- 126,960
No worries have a FAQs and Fiction on DDR3 DRAM, gives a little deeper explanation:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2741495/ddr3-faqs-fiction.html
Might be worth a read
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2741495/ddr3-faqs-fiction.html
Might be worth a read
- Oct 30, 2004
- 32,255
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- 99,960
1. It's always a risk adding RAM... if they didn't come in the same package, there is no guarantee that they will work together.
2. At 1600 / 1866, success is likely .... at 2400 it's iffy. The higher the DDR speed and the lower the CAS the smaller the likelihood of success.
3. Sometimes it just pays to sell the old and get 4 new sticks....
4. I would not add a single stick. Dual channel RAM is best installed in multiples of 2.
2. At 1600 / 1866, success is likely .... at 2400 it's iffy. The higher the DDR speed and the lower the CAS the smaller the likelihood of success.
3. Sometimes it just pays to sell the old and get 4 new sticks....
4. I would not add a single stick. Dual channel RAM is best installed in multiples of 2.
Thanks Tradesman, I'll check that out now!
Hey Jack. Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware that the speed could make a difference! RAM is easily what I'm least knowledgeable with, so I really appreciate all of this information. As for getting 4 new sticks, it's just not in my budget, I need some more RAM but I can't ditch my perfectly fine 16GBs that I have now. When I build my new system in a few months I'll definitely get all of my RAM in a package instead of upgrading over time. You bring up installing in multiples of two, I understand the gist of dual channel, but could you elaborate on what could happen if I have 2 sticks now and add a third?
Also, I'm just shooting for 24GBs for this system, so with my current 16GBs (2x8GB) are you saying it would be better to get 2 4GB sticks to fill two more slots and achieve 24GBs? I always thought all of the RAM should be the same brand/type etc.
Hey Jack. Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware that the speed could make a difference! RAM is easily what I'm least knowledgeable with, so I really appreciate all of this information. As for getting 4 new sticks, it's just not in my budget, I need some more RAM but I can't ditch my perfectly fine 16GBs that I have now. When I build my new system in a few months I'll definitely get all of my RAM in a package instead of upgrading over time. You bring up installing in multiples of two, I understand the gist of dual channel, but could you elaborate on what could happen if I have 2 sticks now and add a third?
Also, I'm just shooting for 24GBs for this system, so with my current 16GBs (2x8GB) are you saying it would be better to get 2 4GB sticks to fill two more slots and achieve 24GBs? I always thought all of the RAM should be the same brand/type etc.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 32,255
- 14
- 99,960
What I was saying is, if you know someone who is building a new box, you could sell off ya 16 GB and buy the 32 GB new in the same package. There's always ebay ... which has 2 x 8GB Vengeance for about $85
4 x 8GB CAS 9 now goes for $180 ... so net cost to you is $96
4 x 8GB CAS 11 now goes for $145... so net cost to you is $60
As for being the same brand / type ... you can't count on it. here's the example I like to use:
2 x 8Gb Corsair Vengeance Pro version 4.50 DDR3-2400 CAS 10
12 months down the road, what's the best RAM to select for the extra 2 x 8GB ?
1. 2 x 8Gb Corsair Vengeance Pro version 4.55 DDR3-2400 CAS 10
2. 2 x 8Gb Mushkin RedlineDDR3-2400 CAS 10
Trick question... the answer is 2. Over time, new RAM classifications / DDR speeds, low CAS timings come out and RAM vendors (notice I didn't say manufacturers as they all buy the RAM modules from the same pool of OEMs) choose their suppliers. They might go with a lower priced vendor who can satisfy their quantity requirements at reasonable yields (% that pass testing) for say 1600 / 1866 / 2133 speeds but choose a higher priced vendor who has better specs / yields for 2400 and up. As the production lines improve, yields improve and now that those meet the vendor's needs, they may switch to the lower cost manufacturer for 2400 also. That's what Corsair did with the VPs after Version 4.51.
Mushkin Redline series 2400 has used Hynix modules from the getgo, Corsair stopped using them with version 4.51.
Before 4.51, CAS timings were 10-12-12-28
Before 4.51, CAS timings were 10-12-12-31
Aside from the timings being different (those are adjustable), the modules are not and it's a bit harder to make the modules from two different OEMs play nice together. Like laptops, PSUs and many other products that compete with one another, often the only difference is the sticker on the unit.
Adding a 3rd leave the system unbalanced. Assuming the 1st two remain working in dual channel, the other one is not and that presents a weird load to the memory controller and may negatively impact performance and overclocking. Whether performance is or is not negatively affected will be application dependent. Not really sure what the mechanics are just that's what i took from peeps who have tried it and measured / reported resuts of the effort.
4 x 8GB CAS 9 now goes for $180 ... so net cost to you is $96
4 x 8GB CAS 11 now goes for $145... so net cost to you is $60
As for being the same brand / type ... you can't count on it. here's the example I like to use:
2 x 8Gb Corsair Vengeance Pro version 4.50 DDR3-2400 CAS 10
12 months down the road, what's the best RAM to select for the extra 2 x 8GB ?
1. 2 x 8Gb Corsair Vengeance Pro version 4.55 DDR3-2400 CAS 10
2. 2 x 8Gb Mushkin RedlineDDR3-2400 CAS 10
Trick question... the answer is 2. Over time, new RAM classifications / DDR speeds, low CAS timings come out and RAM vendors (notice I didn't say manufacturers as they all buy the RAM modules from the same pool of OEMs) choose their suppliers. They might go with a lower priced vendor who can satisfy their quantity requirements at reasonable yields (% that pass testing) for say 1600 / 1866 / 2133 speeds but choose a higher priced vendor who has better specs / yields for 2400 and up. As the production lines improve, yields improve and now that those meet the vendor's needs, they may switch to the lower cost manufacturer for 2400 also. That's what Corsair did with the VPs after Version 4.51.
Mushkin Redline series 2400 has used Hynix modules from the getgo, Corsair stopped using them with version 4.51.
Before 4.51, CAS timings were 10-12-12-28
Before 4.51, CAS timings were 10-12-12-31
Aside from the timings being different (those are adjustable), the modules are not and it's a bit harder to make the modules from two different OEMs play nice together. Like laptops, PSUs and many other products that compete with one another, often the only difference is the sticker on the unit.
Adding a 3rd leave the system unbalanced. Assuming the 1st two remain working in dual channel, the other one is not and that presents a weird load to the memory controller and may negatively impact performance and overclocking. Whether performance is or is not negatively affected will be application dependent. Not really sure what the mechanics are just that's what i took from peeps who have tried it and measured / reported resuts of the effort.
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