Adding ram to current rig

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IronWolf87

Commendable
May 9, 2016
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Hello,
I currently have 8gb of corsair dominator ram and want to add 8 more. Can I just buy another set of 4gb sticks (also corsair dominator) that match and install it? I hear it may not work.
 
Solution
JackNaylorPE
Adding RAM is particularly iffy as even if you buy the exact same manufacturer, series and model number, there is no guarantee that the sticks will be the same. For example, Corsair Vengeance Pro and Dominators in DDR3-2400 have modules supplied by Hynix up to version 4.51 .. after they switched to a lower priced vendor. Adding RAM can therefore best be described as a crap shoot ... even if you buy two packages of 2 x 4GB on the same day from the same vendor with the exact same specs, manufacturer, series and model number, the manufacturer will not guarantee that they will work together.

The only time sticks are guaranteed that they will work together is when they come together in a single package. I had an instance few years...
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Ak74Egy

Ak74Egy

Reputable
Jun 4, 2016
297
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yes you preferably need to get identical RAM, and I mean like same brand, same size, same speed, and even same series (IE: Gskill ripjaws wont perform with Gskill Sniper) , RAM is very much a headache to be honest
 
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JackNaylorPE

JackNaylorPE

Titan
BANNED
Oct 30, 2004
32,255
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Adding RAM is particularly iffy as even if you buy the exact same manufacturer, series and model number, there is no guarantee that the sticks will be the same. For example, Corsair Vengeance Pro and Dominators in DDR3-2400 have modules supplied by Hynix up to version 4.51 .. after they switched to a lower priced vendor. Adding RAM can therefore best be described as a crap shoot ... even if you buy two packages of 2 x 4GB on the same day from the same vendor with the exact same specs, manufacturer, series and model number, the manufacturer will not guarantee that they will work together.

The only time sticks are guaranteed that they will work together is when they come together in a single package. I had an instance few years back where two systems needed upgrades .... one had Mushkin, one had Corsair. The only manufacturer who was still selling DDR2 at that point was Gskill .... bought one set for each .... neither upgrade was successful. However, on a lark, I took the Corsairs out of box 2 and put them in with the Mushkies and they worked fine .... the 4 GSkills also got along.

Your chances of success diminish with RAM speed ... at 1600, your chances are good, at 2400 much less so. Also 4 sticks puts a greater load on the memory controller resulting in extra heat and adds potential stability issues.... you may have to reduce timings and / or speed and your CPU OC might have to be dropped a bit.

If you have trouble, start out with a bit of extra DRAM voltage before messing with timings,
 
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Solution
Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

Champion
Feb 29, 2016
8,003
5
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You are never guaranteed to get dual channel operation even with identical kits. But you do stand the absolute best chance of getting there by buying identical kits, so it's teh way to go regardless.
 
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